Researchers from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the MeerKAT radio telescope have discovered the existence of Inkathazo, a distinctive giant radio galaxy.
As astronomers attempt to understand the unique features of this cosmic structure, they have faced various challenges. Giant radio galaxies (GRGs) are fueled by supermassive black holes and are among the largest structures in the universe.
Once considered rare, these structures have been discovered in increasing numbers over the past five years, thanks to the capabilities of the MeerKAT telescope.
Kathleen Charlton, a Master’s student at UCT, made the following statement about GRG research:
“The number of GRG discoveries has absolutely exploded in the past five years thanks to powerful new telescopes like MeerKAT. Research into GRGs is developing so rapidly that it’s becoming hard to keep up. It’s incredibly exciting!”
What sets Inkathazo apart from other giant radio galaxies is its extremely unusual plasma jets, which extend up to 3.3 million light-years.
The size of Inkathazo is more than 32 times larger than the Milky Way galaxy.
The name Inkathazo, which means “trouble” in isiZulu and isiXhosa, reflects the complexities and peculiarities of this galaxy, which have posed significant challenges for researchers trying to understand its mysterious physical properties.
Thanks to the high technology of MeerKAT, high-resolution spectral age maps of this GRG were created. These maps tracked the age of the plasma jets across different regions, revealing unexpected energy spikes in the electrons within the jets.
This phenomenon is attributed to collisions with hot gas, but the observation challenges existing plasma physics models and highlights the cosmic complexity of the galaxy.
The discovery of Inkathazo demonstrates how South Africa and UCT are advancing in the field of astronomy, contributing to international collaboration and playing a vital role in solving the cosmic mysteries through groundbreaking research.