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Homechevron_rightSciencechevron_rightS. Africa telescope...

S. Africa telescope discovers giant radio galaxy 32x bigger than Milky Way

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S. Africa telescope discovers giant radio galaxy 32x bigger than Milky Way
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The newly discovered giant radio galaxy "Inkathazo." 

Cape Town: South Africa's MeerKAT telescope has uncovered a colossal discovery in the cosmos – a giant radio galaxy whose plasma jets span a staggering 3.3 million light-years, more than 32 times the size of the Milky Way. This breakthrough challenges previous understanding of giant galaxies and has allowed researchers to delve deeper into the complexities of plasma physics.

Known as Inkathazo, which means "trouble" in South Africa's isiXhosa and isiZulu languages, this newly discovered galaxy is far from ordinary. While typical giant radio galaxies have straight plasma jets, Inkathazo’s jets exhibit an unusual bend. The galaxy also resides at the center of a galaxy cluster, which raises questions about how environmental interactions may influence the formation and growth of such enormous galaxies.

The discovery of Inkathazo comes from the International Gigahertz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration (MIGHTEE) survey, conducted with MeerKAT's exceptional resolution capabilities. The telescope, located in the Karoo region of South Africa, has already made significant contributions to revealing hidden phenomena in the southern sky. The MIGHTEE team, alongside other global astronomers, has previously identified two other giant radio galaxies in the same region, confirming the area as a rich source for cosmic discoveries.

Inkathazo’s plasma jets, consisting of high-energy electrons, suggest unexpected interactions within the galaxy. These jets, which glow at radio frequencies, provide a view into the extreme plasma physics at play. The research team hypothesizes that the jets’ collision with hot intergalactic gas may cause these energy boosts, shedding light on processes that were not previously understood.

MeerKAT, a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array – set to be the world’s largest telescope by 2028 – is perfectly positioned to continue uncovering and studying giant radio galaxies. The recent discovery signals that more cosmic giants may be hidden in the southern sky, offering an exciting future for astronomical exploration.


With PTI inputs

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TAGS:South AfricaScientific DiscoveryScience/Tech
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