In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa have identified a massive new galaxy, named Inkathazo, with plasma jets stretching across 3.3 million light-years – 32 times the size of the Milky Way.
The discovery, made in the COSMOS field, challenges existing scientific models and offers a deeper understanding of the extreme physical processes occurring in these colossal galaxies.
Inkathazo, located at the heart of a galaxy cluster, stands out due to its unusual plasma jet shape, with one jet exhibiting a bend rather than extending straight.
This atypical feature raises questions about the role of environmental factors in the formation and evolution of giant radio galaxies.
Researchers believe interactions with hot gas in the galaxy cluster may be influencing the behavior of the jets.
This marks the third giant radio galaxy uncovered by the MeerKAT team in a small patch of sky, part of a broader effort that has recently led to the discovery of over 11,000 such galaxies.
The continued success of MeerKAT underscores its crucial role in advancing our understanding of the universe’s most extreme and enigmatic phenomena.
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