Astronomers discover Inkathazo: A radio galaxy 30 times larger than Milky Way

Giant Radio galaxy spans more than 3 million light-years, making it more than 30 times larger than the Milky Way. (Image: AI Generated)

Astronomers have uncovered an extraordinary giant radio galaxy, Inkathazo, using South Africa's MeerKAT telescope. This massive galaxy spans more than 3 million light-years, making it more than 30 times larger than the Milky Way.

An Enormous, Peculiar Discovery
Inkathazo’s colossal size is not the only surprise. Its plasma jets, which extend across vast stretches of space, have a unique, unusual shape. Unlike typical galaxies, one of its jets is bent, adding to its mystery. Despite its immense size, the galaxy resides in a cluster of other galaxies, an environment that usually limits the growth of such gigantic features.

South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope. (Image: South African Radio Astronomy Observatory)

"Finding Inkathazo in this galaxy cluster raises important questions," said co-author Kshitij Thorat from the University of Pretoria. "It challenges our understanding of how these massive structures form."

The Mystery of Inkathazo’s Jets
Using MeerKAT, researchers created detailed spectral age maps of the galaxy. These maps revealed unexpected energy boosts within Inkathazo's jets. This could suggest interactions between the jets and the hot gases in the galaxy cluster.

Left: MeerKAT's view of Inkathazo shows its plasma jets in red and yellow, with starlight from distant galaxies in the background. Right: A spectral age map of Inkathazo, with cyan and green representing younger plasma and purple indicating older plasma. (Image: MeerKAT)

“We may be seeing the impact of the cosmic environment on these jets," said Thorat. "This discovery provides a unique opportunity to study the physics of giant radio galaxies in great detail."

A New Era for Giant Radio Galaxies
Giant radio galaxies (GRGs) are becoming more common, thanks to advanced telescopes like MeerKAT. The number of GRG discoveries has increased dramatically in the past five years.

"MeerKAT is a powerful tool that is helping us unveil more of these colossal galaxies in the southern sky," said researcher Jacinta Delhaize from the University of Cape Town.

Inkathazo is one of three GRGs identified in recent studies. Its discovery demonstrates the hidden potential in southern sky observations.

This study, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, could redefine our understanding of these fascinating cosmic structures.