South African telescope captures stunning image of radio galaxy

[Judi Lynn]

By Samantha Mathewson about 8 hours ago

Cosmic threads, ribbons and rings are caused by radio emissions from matter falling into the black hole at the center of the galaxy.



The Fanaroff-Riley Type I radio galaxy IC 4296 dominates this spectacular vista, wider than the full moon on the sky. MeerKAT radio data are represented in red/orange hues in this composite view. (Image credit: SARAO, SSS, S. Dagnello and W. Cotton (NRAO/AUI/NSF))

A stunning new image from the South African MeerKAT telescope captures powerful radio emissions woven through space.

The radio emissions emanate from an enormous rotating black hole that lies at the center of an elliptical galaxy known as IC 4296. Energy released by matter falling into the black hole generates two radio jets of high energy gas on opposite sides of the galaxy — creating what is also known as a double-lobed radio galaxy.

Using the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory's (SARAO) MeerKAT telescope, located in the southwest Karoo region of the country, researchers detected the radio waves from IC 4296, along with other unique cosmic features that may reveal new clues about large radio galaxies, according to a statement from the SARAO.

- video at link -

Recent observations of IC 4296 revealed that the radio jets become unstable as they travel beyond the outer reaches of the galaxy, allowing some of the charged electrons to escape into intergalactic space. These stray electrons create several faint radio "threads," which appear below the galaxy in the new image.

More:
https://www.space.com/south-african-meerkat-telescope-galaxy-image?utm_source=notification

[padah513]

1. So many wonders