Astronomers have discovered a staggering 15 new giant radio galaxies within the “Sculptor Field” view of Australia’s Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope. These massive objects are the largest single entities in the universe, with sizes ranging from 3.7 million to 12.4 million light-years across. The discovery was made using ASKAP’s high-resolution, wide-field radio imaging capabilities, which enabled the team to detect fainter structures that were previously undetectable.
The new giant radio galaxies are similar in size to the Local Group of galaxies, which includes the Milky Way and Andromeda. However, unlike these smaller galaxies, giant radio galaxies have massive supermassive black holes at their centers, feeding on surrounding matter and blasting out powerful jets of matter at near-light speeds.
One of the most remarkable features of these galaxies is their unique structure, with two sets of radio lobes that stretch out for millions of light-years. These lobes are thought to be created by the merger of galaxy clusters, which can lead to a surge in supermassive black hole activity and jet formation.
The discovery of giant radio galaxies has significant implications for our understanding of galaxy evolution and the growth of supermassive black holes. The ASKAP data will allow researchers to study these galaxies in great detail, providing insights into their morphology, symmetry, and ages.
According to team leader Baerbel Silvia Koribalski, “Giant radio galaxies are a treasure trove of information about galaxy evolution and the growth of supermassive black holes. By studying these objects, we can gain a better understanding of how galaxies form and evolve over time.”
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/astronomers-discover-15-new-giant-radio-galaxies-the-largest-single-objects-in-the-universe