Radio Galaxies
Articles tagged with Radio Galaxies
Astronomers discover 49 new galaxies in under three hours
An international team of astronomers has discovered 49 new gas-rich galaxies, expanding our understanding of the universe. The detection was made possible by the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa, which allowed for rapid identification of HI-rich galaxy groups.
Black holes are missing in the early Universe, and computers are after them
Researchers developed a machine learning technique to identify superluminous galaxies with massive black holes at their core. The algorithm predicts intense radio signals from these galaxies, which could provide insights into the physical phenomena of the early Universe.
Monitoring of radio galaxy M87 confirms black hole spin
A team of researchers confirmed the spin of a black hole in galaxy M87 by analyzing data from 2000-2022, showing an 11-year cycle in its jet's precessional motion. The findings provide evidence that the black hole spins, enhancing our understanding of supermassive black holes.
Astronomers image for the first time a black hole expelling a powerful jet
An international team of scientists has produced an image showing both the ring-like accretion structure around a black hole and the associated relativistic jet. The study provides new insights into the connection between the accretion flow near the central supermassive black hole and the origin of the jet.
Galaxy changes classification as jet changes direction
Astronomers have discovered a galaxy with a unique activity in its core, leading to a reclassification as a giant radio galaxy. The PBC J2333.9-2343 galaxy has a blazar at its center with jets that changed direction drastically by up to 90 degrees.
ALMA witnesses deadly star-slinging tug-of-war between merging galaxies
Scientists discovered that the galaxy stopped forming stars because most of its gas fuel was thrown out of the system as it merged with another galaxy. The result is a first for ALMA scientists and challenges long-held theories about galaxy mergers and deaths.
X-shaped radio galaxies might form more simply than expected
A Northwestern University study reveals that X-shaped radio galaxies can form through a surprisingly simple process. The simulation, which tracked galactic gas far from the supermassive black hole, found that the galaxy's characteristic X-shape resulted from interaction between jets and infalling gas.
Hunting for dark galaxies with FAST
The FAST HI survey has discovered 544 HI-detected galaxies, including 16 that have no optical counterparts, sparking interest in galaxy formation theory. These 'dark' galaxies may represent a new type of object containing dark matter and HI gas but few stars.
Astronomers detect a radio “heartbeat” billions of light-years from Earth
Researchers have detected a persistent radio signal from a far-off galaxy that repeats every 0.2 seconds in a clear periodic pattern, similar to a heartbeat. The source of the signal is unknown but may be related to a radio pulsar or magnetar, which could provide an astrophysical clock for measuring the universe's expansion.
Rapid-fire fast radio burst shows hot space between galaxies
Astronomers have discovered a rare and persistent rapid-fire fast radio burst source, sending out an occasional cosmic ping from over 3.5 billion light years away. The burst, named FRB 20190520B, has encountered far more gas in its host galaxy than expected, challenging previous assumptions about the intergalactic medium.
CRAFTS discovers younger and weirder brother of first repeating fast radio burst
Researchers have discovered a new repeating fast radio burst, FRB 190520B, which exhibits extreme behavior similar to the initial discovery, FRB 121102A. The source has high ambient electron density and reliable bursting behaviors, suggesting it may be a 'newborn' with characteristics resembling a super luminous supernova.
Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the heart of our galaxy
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has captured the first image of Sagittarius A*, a black hole at the center of the Milky Way, revealing a ring-like structure and shadow. The observation confirms Einstein's theory of general relativity and provides new insights into giant black holes.
Mysterious source of fast radio bursts
Researchers have discovered a source of fast radio bursts in the vicinity of galaxy M81, adding to the ongoing mystery surrounding these enigmatic events. The findings suggest that magnetars, highly magnetized neutron stars, may be responsible for generating FRBs, but further study is needed to fully understand this phenomenon.
Astronomers capture black hole eruption spanning 16 times the full moon in the sky
Astronomers captured the most comprehensive image of radio emission from a supermassive black hole in the Centaurus A galaxy, powered by in-falling gas. The eruption extends eight degrees across the sky, spanning 16 full moons, and reveals spectacular new details of the radio emission.
VLA reveals double-helix structure in massive galaxy's jet
Astronomers used the VLA to reveal a double helix structure in the magnetic field of M87's jet, tracing material out to nearly 3,300 light-years. The findings suggest that instabilities in the flow of material within the jet could produce the observed double-helix structure.
Arecibo data still has astronomers in a spin
Using Arecibo's observations of nearby galaxies, researchers have found that the relationship between a galaxy's mass and rotation speed is not as straightforward as previously thought. The study provides a constraint for future researchers to develop theories on how galaxies evolve.
Scientists observe gas re-accretion in dying galaxies for the first time
Researchers using ALMA data have observed gas re-accreting onto galaxies affected by ram pressure stripping, potentially slowing down their demise. This process creates unique structures resistant to ram pressure's effects, with mass and a sticky nature that holds onto material more tightly.
Discovery of a remnant radio galaxy using the GMRT
Researchers have discovered a remnant radio galaxy in Abell2065, providing insights into the dying phase of active galaxies. The discovery showcases the capability of upgraded GMRT to detect such objects, shedding light on their dynamics and evolution.
New study reveals previously unseen star formation in milky way
Astronomers have detected previously unseen tracers of massive star formation in the Milky Way, including compact regions of hydrogen gas and radio emission from methanol molecules. The survey more than doubled the number of supernova remnants found in the region.
EHT pinpoints dark heart of the nearest radio galaxy
The Event Horizon Telescope has imaged the heart of the nearby radio galaxy Centaurus A, pinpointing the location of its central supermassive black hole and revealing a gigantic jet being born. The new image challenges theoretical models of jets, showing that only the outer edges emit radiation.
Galactic gamma ray bursts predicted last year show up right on schedule
Researchers predicted gamma ray bursts from a nearby magnetar and confirmed their prediction, showing periodic windowed behavior. The pattern of bursts was found to be periodic, but not perfectly regular, adding to the mystery of how magnetars produce radio and gamma ray bursts.
ALMA discovers earliest gigantic black hole storm
Researchers used ALMA to detect a galactic wind driven by a supermassive black hole 13.1 billion years ago, pushing back the start of galaxy-growth interactions by 100 million years. The observation reveals coevolution between supermassive black holes and galaxies since less than a billion years after the Universe's birth.
An unprecedented survey of the 'nurseries' where stars are born
A team of researchers has conducted the first systematic survey of stellar nurseries, charting over 100,000 nurseries in 90 nearby galaxies. The study reveals that these nurseries are surprisingly diverse across galaxies, live only a relatively short time, and are not very efficient at making stars.
GMRT measures the atomic hydrogen gas mass in galaxies 9 billion years ago
Researchers from NCRA-TIFR and RRI used the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope to measure the atomic hydrogen gas content of galaxies 9 billion years ago. They found that galaxies at this time were rich in gas, with nearly three times as much mass in atomic gas as in stars.
Magnetized threads weave spectacular galactic tapestry
A new panorama of the Galactic Center builds on previous surveys, expanding Chandra's high-energy view. The image features X-ray and radio emission intertwined threads, bound by magnetic fields that may have formed through magnetic reconnection. This process drives galactic-scale outflows and affects cosmic rays and interstellar medium.
Plasma jets reveal magnetic fields far, far away
Researchers observed plasma jets interacting with magnetic fields in a massive galaxy cluster 600 million light years away. The findings can help clarify how such galaxy clusters evolve, providing new insights into the structure of intracluster magnetic fields.
Hubble tracks down fast radio bursts to galaxies' spiral arms
Astronomers use Hubble to pin five FRBs to host galaxies and identify their origins as young magnetar outbursts. The study provides new insights into the nature of these powerful events, which generate energy equivalent to the Sun's in a year.
ALMA discovers the most ancient galaxy with spiral morphology
Researchers discovered a galaxy with a spiral structure 1.4 billion years after the Big Bang using ALMA data. The galaxy's estimated mass is roughly equal to that of the Milky Way and contains a large amount of dust, making it difficult to study in visible light.
A new window to see hidden side of magnetized universe
Astronomers have developed a new tool to investigate the structure of invisible inter-cluster magnetic fields in galaxies. The technique uses jets of high-energy particles emitted from massive black holes to create detailed maps of these magnetic fields.
Astronomers see a 'space jellyfish'
An Australian-Italian team used the Murchison Widefield Array telescope to observe a cluster of galaxies in Abell 2877. The team discovered a radio 'jellyfish' structure with a steep spectrum that challenges current understanding. The discovery was made possible by the unique low-frequency capabilities of the MWA.
Image release: Cosmic lens reveals faint radio galaxy
A team of astronomers used a natural cosmic lens to magnify the light from a distant radio galaxy, detected for the first time using the VLA. The discovery provides valuable insights into star formation in low-mass galaxies at early universe ages.
Most distant cosmic jet providing clues about early universe
Astronomers have found the most distant cosmic jet, providing insights into how galaxies evolved and supermassive black holes grew when the universe was only 780 million years old. The quasar, with a massive black hole 300 million times more massive than the Sun, has a jet of fast-moving particles about 1,000 years old.
Big galaxies steal star-forming gas from their smaller neighbours
Research reveals large galaxies steal molecular gas from smaller satellite galaxies, impacting star formation rates. The study provides new systematic evidence of gas loss through ram pressure stripping, leading to galaxy stagnation without gas acquisition.
Astronomical discovery earns 2020 AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize
Researchers successfully localized a non-repeating fast radio burst (FRB) using a novel processing system and supercomputer. The breakthrough identified the source location as a galaxy about 3.6 billion light-years away, providing valuable insights into FRBs and their possible causes.
Cosmic beasts and where to find them
Two giant radio galaxies have been discovered in a small patch of sky, exceeding the size of the Milky Way. The discovery was made possible by the MeerKAT International Gigahertz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration (MIGHTEE) survey, which revealed these cosmic beasts with unprecedented sensitivity.
A blazar in the early universe
Astronomers observed a galaxy 12.8 billion light-years from Earth, revealing previously unseen details in its jet of material ejected at three-quarters the speed of light. The analysis supports theoretical models for blazar rarity in the early universe.
VLA sky survey reveals newborn jets in distant galaxies
Astronomers have found distant galaxies with supermassive black holes that launched powerful radio-emitting jets within the past two decades. The study used data from the VLA Sky Survey and compared it with earlier surveys to identify these new jets.
Image release: Galaxies in the Perseus Cluster
Astronomers used the VLA to study how a crowded environment affects galaxies in the Perseus Cluster. The research reveals complex filamentary structures in radio lobes and bending of jets due to motion through intergalactic material, providing new insights into galaxy clusters.
New telescope at Green Bank Observatory will improve localization of Fast Radio Bursts
A new telescope, Outrigger, will be built at the Green Bank Observatory to pinpoint the locations of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) in far-off galaxies. The telescope will work with the existing CHIME telescope to triangulate FRB locations and provide insights into their nature.
Astronomers discover clues that unveil the mystery of fast radio bursts
Researchers have made breakthrough discoveries about fast radio bursts (FRBs), a mysterious phenomenon. The studies reveal that magnetars, incredibly dense neutron stars, can produce FRBs through magnetic field dissipation. These findings narrow down the understanding of FRB mechanisms, offering new insights into this enigmatic field.
NASA missions help pinpoint the source of a unique x-ray, radio burst
A supermagnetized stellar remnant, magnetar SGR 1935+2154 produced a mix of X-ray and radio signals, including the first fast radio burst (FRB) observed from within our Milky Way galaxy. The event suggests that magnetars in other galaxies may produce similar signals.
Upgraded GMRT measures the mass of hydrogen in distant galaxies
A team of astronomers has used the upgraded GMRT to measure atomic hydrogen content in galaxies as they were 8 billion years ago. The study reveals that the exhaustion of atomic hydrogen gas explains the decline in star formation activity over time.
VLBA makes first direct distance measurement to magnetar
Astronomers used the VLBA to measure the distance to magnetar XTE J1810-197, one of the closest known at about 8100 light-years. This precise measurement can help determine if magnetars generate Fast Radio Bursts, a long-mysterious phenomenon.
Can black hole fire up cold heart of the phoenix?
The discovery of radio jets in the Phoenix Galaxy Cluster suggests that a supermassive black hole is actively heating intra-cluster gas, preventing star formation. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of galaxy evolution and coevolution.
A galaxy's stop-and-start young radio jets
The Very Long Baseline Array revealed young radio-emitting jets that began 80 years ago and stopped, then resumed about 10 years ago. The bright core houses a supermassive black hole about one million times the mass of the Sun.
NASA missions explore a 'TIE Fighter' active galaxy
Astronomers studied the galaxy's radio structure using VLBA, revealing a striking TIE fighter shape at 6.6 GHz. The team observed two periods of activity in TXS 0128+554, suggesting a lull in activity created a gap in the radio emission.
NASA's Webb to study quasars and their host galaxies in three dimensions
The Q3D team will study three bright quasars to measure the activity that comes from accreting material onto supermassive black holes, revealing how it affects host galaxies. The study aims to understand the relationship between supermassive black holes and their host galaxies by analyzing gas motions in nearby and distant galaxies.
Magnetic field of a spiral galaxy
Researchers use VLA radio telescope to image galaxy NGC 4217's magnetic field, extending far beyond the galaxy's disk. The dynamo theory suggests that this massive magnetic field is generated by plasma motion within the galaxy's disk.
New cosmic magnetic field structures discovered in galaxy NGC 4217
Researchers analyzed the magnetic field of Milky Way-like galaxy NGC 4217 and discovered unique structures such as X-shaped fields, helices, superbubbles, and giant loops. These findings suggest a connection between star formation and supernovae explosions in shaping the galaxy's magnetic field.
Quasar jets are particle accelerators thousands of light-years long
Researchers discovered that quasar gamma-ray emission extends over thousands of light-years along plasma jets, contradicting previous assumptions. This finding reveals that particle acceleration occurs not only near the black hole but also along the entire jet length.
New distance measurements bolster challenge to basic model of universe
A new study using international radio telescope data reveals galaxies are nearer than predicted, exacerbating a discrepancy in the Hubble Constant measurement. This finding bolsters the need to revise the standard cosmological model of the Universe.
First optical measurements of Milky Way's Fermi Bubbles probe their origin
Astronomers have measured the Fermi Bubbles, two enormous outflows of high-energy gas emanating from the Milky Way, using the Wisconsin H-Alpha Mapper telescope. The findings refine our understanding of these mysterious blobs and provide new opportunities to study the galaxy's central region.
Cosmic bursts unveil universe's missing matter
Researchers have found all of the missing 'normal' matter in the vast space between stars and galaxies, using fast radio bursts. The phenomenon allowed them to directly detect the missing matter, which is equivalent to only one or two atoms in a room the size of an average office.
In a nearby galaxy, a fast radio burst unravels more questions than answers
A team of international scientists has localized a repeating fast radio burst to a region approximately seven light years across, shedding new light on the mystery surrounding its origins.
Astronomers find wandering massive black holes in dwarf galaxies
Thirteen massive black holes have been discovered in dwarf galaxies less than a billion light-years from Earth, with an average mass of 400,000 times that of the Sun. These findings suggest that half of these massive black holes are wandering in the outskirts of their galaxies, indicating galaxy mergers earlier in their history.
GMRT discovers a gigantic ring of hydrogen gas around a distant galaxy
Astronomers using the GMRT have discovered a massive ring of hydrogen gas surrounding a galaxy, with a diameter of 380,000 light-years. The origin and formation mechanism of such rings remain unknown, despite previous thought that they are associated with galaxy-galaxy collisions.
Image release: Giant magnetic ropes in a galaxy's halo
Astronomers have discovered hair-like filaments of magnetic field protruding above and below the disk of spiral galaxy NGC 4631. The filaments, extending beyond the disk into the galaxy's extended halo, indicate a large-scale, coherent magnetic field.
New research on giant radio galaxies defies conventional wisdom
Astrophysicists simulated giant radio galaxies to explain their formation. They found that these objects remain enormous even at great distances, challenging classical physics.
Galaxy found to float in a tranquil sea of halo gas
Astronomers analyze radio pulses from a fast radio burst to characterize the diffuse gas in a galactic halo, finding surprisingly low density and weak magnetic field. The discovery challenges previous models and provides new insights into ejection processes and galaxy evolution.