Scientists have discovered a massive and unusual radio galaxy nicknamed “Inkathazo,” which means “trouble” in the Xhosa and Zulu languages. This extraordinary galaxy, located about 3.3 million light-years across, is 32 times the size of our Milky Way. It was identified using South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope, which has been instrumental in uncovering new cosmic structures.
Inkathazo is notable for its gigantic plasma jets, streams of hot gas emitted from the supermassive black hole at the galaxy’s center. These jets glow at radio frequencies and extend across vast distances, making them some of the largest structures known in the universe. Researchers have found that one of Inkathazo’s jets has an unusually bent shape, differing from typical straight jets in other giant radio galaxies.
The discovery of Inkathazo has raised questions about how such a large galaxy can exist within a cluster of galaxies, challenging existing theories about the formation and evolution of these cosmic giants.
The research team created high-resolution maps using MeerKAT to study the age and behavior of the plasma jets in Inkathazo. They observed unexpected energy boosts in some electrons within the jets, likely caused by collisions with hot gas in the space between galaxies.
This discovery is part of a broader trend; recent advancements in radio telescopes like MeerKAT have led to a surge in giant radio galaxy discoveries. Until recently, these massive structures were thought to be rare.
Inkathazo is not alone; it is one of three giant radio galaxies in a small sky area known as COSMOS. The findings highlight the potential for uncovering many more giant radio galaxies in the southern sky, paving the way for further exploration and understanding of these fascinating cosmic phenomena.
Recent advancements in telescopes like MeerKAT, Green Bank Telescope (GBT), and Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT), have led to significant discoveries, including a recent finding by an Indian team of astronomers, who discovered 34 Giant Radio Sources by using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT).
Read more about this discovery on Oxford Academic.