GMRT data help astronomers discover new remnant radio galaxy 

GMRT data help astronomers discover new remnant radio galaxy 

Pune: A team of astronomers from India and South Africa have discovered a new remnant radio galaxy designated 'J1615+5452'. The astronomers have made this discovery with the help of observations made by the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) located at Khodad near Narayangaon in Junnar taluka of Pune district. This discovery will help astronomers to understand the life cycle and especially the final stage of a radio galaxy better. It will also help young students and scientists immensely in their research work.

The team of astronomers led by CH Ishwara Chandra of National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) and Zara Randriamanakoto of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) made the discovery of the new object which has a size exceeding 300,000 light-years. They have published the detailed findings in a paper published on June 17 on arXiv.org.

A radio galaxy emits a huge amount of radio waves from its central cores. The black holes at the galaxy centre accrete gas and dust and generate high-energy jets visible in radio wavelengths. They further accelerate electrically charged particles to high velocities. A radio galaxy is in its active stage for up to around 100 million years and contains features like core, lobes, jets, and hotspots. After this stage, this activity disappears and the galaxy enters the remnant or dying phase.

Dr Ishwara Chandra said, "Our team of astronomers had started this mission in 2017-18. Unlike an active radio galaxy, features like core, lobes, jets, and hotspots were not found in this newly identified object."

NCRA Director Dr Yashwant Gupta said, "Our scientists have made this discovery based on available limited data. But the advanced data from GMRT will help us discover more such galaxies. Our scientists will bring forward a new treasure of radio astronomy findings and discoveries."

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE GALAXY 

  • The synchrotron age of source was 76 million years 
  • Galaxy spent 30 per cent of its total lifetime in the fading phase

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