May I ask where you found the reference to “22,000 - 23,000 years ago?”. This is an interesting timeline if you look at the graphic I posted previously, but I didn’t see it in the article unless I missed it. I would like to chase it more if you don’t mind sharing.
The center of the Milky Way is supposed to be 23,000 light years from Earth. I do not believe the center is 1,000 light years across, but do not know for sure. It is a guess from that.
Sagittarius A is about 26,000 light years away from us. The events being seen today, happened 26,000 years ago.