Highlights of VERITAS Galactic science results

VERITAS is one of the most sensitive ground-based detectors of very high-energy (VHE; E > 100 billion electron volts) gamma rays. This array of four 12-meter imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes in southern Arizona, USA, has been in operation for ~ 17 years. VHE gamma rays are associated with some of the most energetic sites in our Galaxy, including supernova remnants, pulsars and their relativistic winds, binary systems, and transient novae. By studying these sites and the environment around them, we can understand the mechanisms by which nature accelerates cosmic rays up to PeV (E > 10¹⁵ eV) energies, as well as how these cosmic rays escape and interact with the surrounding interstellar medium. This talk will cover recent Galactic source studies conducted with VERITAS, including investigations into cosmic ray acceleration in supernova remnants and exploring the nature of unidentified PeVatrons.