Alcyoneus Galaxy
Nestled 3.5 billion light-years away in the Lynx constellation, the Alcyoneus Galaxy emerges as a cosmic marvel, stretching the boundaries of our understanding of galactic structures. Discovered by a team of astronomers led by Martijn Oei using Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) data, Alcyoneus stands as a testament to the grandeur of the universe.
What is Alcyoneus Galaxy
Alcyoneus Galaxy is a colossal celestial structure and a member of the elite category of giant radio galaxies, characterized by expansive radio lobes generated by relativistic jets fueled by the central galaxy's supermassive black hole.
What Type of Galaxy is Alcyoneus Galaxy
Alcyoneus Galaxy is classified as a giant radio galaxy, exhibiting remarkable characteristics such as colossal radio lobes, relativistic jets, and a supermassive black hole at its galactic center.
How old is Alcyoneus Galaxy
The age of Alcyoneus Galaxy is not explicitly mentioned in the provided information.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Size in Light Years
Alcyoneus Galaxy spans over 16,000,000 light-years across, making it one of the largest known structures of galactic origin.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Diameter in Light Years and Compared to Milky Way
The galaxy boasts an impressive diameter of 16,000,000 light-years, which is four times larger than IC 1101 and a staggering 160 times the size of our Milky Way.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Mass in Solar Masses
Despite its colossal size, Alcyoneus Galaxy has a mass of approximately 240 billion times that of the Sun, challenging previous assumptions about the relationship between mass and size in galaxies.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Location
Situated at Right Ascension 08h 14m 21.68s and Declination +52° 24′ 10.08″, Alcyoneus Galaxy orchestrates its celestial dance in the Lynx constellation.
10 Interesting Fun Facts about Alcyoneus Galaxy
- A Giant Among Giants: Alcyoneus spans over 16 million light-years, four times larger than IC 1101 and 160 times the size of the Milky Way.
- Celestial Titan: Named after the giant Alcyoneus from Greek mythology.
- Cosmic Coordinates: Located in the Lynx constellation at specific Right Ascension and Declination coordinates.
- Enormous Diameter: Boasts a remarkable diameter of 16 million light-years.
- Distance from Earth: Resides at a staggering distance of 3.56 billion light-years.
- Monumental Discovery: Discovered in February 2022 through observations with the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) in Europe.
- Colossal Radio Galaxy: Extends a remarkable 5 megaparsecs into space, showcasing the largest known structure of galactic origin.
- Ordinary Mass, Extraordinary Size: Exhibits a mass of approximately 240 billion times that of the Sun.
- Unique Low Excitation Nature: Stands out among giant radio galaxies due to its low excitation nature.
- Supermassive Black Hole: Harbors a supermassive black hole approximately 400 million times the mass of the Sun.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Distance from Earth in Light Years and Miles / Km
Situated 3.56 billion light-years away, Alcyoneus Galaxy resides at a considerable distance from Earth, emphasizing the challenges astronomers face in studying galaxies beyond our cosmic neighborhood.
A Giant Among Giants
Alcyoneus stands as a titan among galaxies, spanning over 16,000,000 light-years across—four times larger than its predecessor, IC 1101, and a staggering 160 times the size of our Milky Way. Named after the giant Alcyoneus from Greek mythology, this celestial entity transcends the ordinary, pushing the boundaries of what we thought possible.
Charting the Cosmic Coordinates
- Constellation: Lynx
- Diameter: 16,000,000 light-years
- Distance from Earth: 3,560,000,000 light-years
- Estimated Number of Stars: >100,000,000,000,000
- Apparent Magnitude: 17.16
- Redshift: 0.24674
Alcyoneus takes its place in the celestial catalog as SDSS J081421.68+522410.0, a monumental discovery dating back to February 2022. The galaxy's sheer scale and distance challenge our cosmic perspective, inviting astronomers to delve into its mysteries.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Size
Alcyoneus, a colossal radio galaxy, extends a staggering 5 megaparsecs into space, constituting the largest known structure of galactic origin. This astronomical giant reaches a length of 16.3 million light-years, highlighting its immense scale within the cosmic expanse.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Diameter
This massive celestial entity boasts an impressive diameter, with its radio lobes stretching at least 16 million light-years through space. This extensive dimension makes Alcyoneus a remarkable astronomical phenomenon, offering unique insights into the mysteries of the universe.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Mass
Despite its extraordinary size, Alcyoneus exhibits a fairly normal elliptical galaxy mass. With a mass of approximately 240 billion times that of the Sun, this galaxy contributes to our understanding of giant radio galaxies, challenging previous assumptions about the relationship between mass and size.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Temperature
The specific temperature of Alcyoneus Galaxy is not explicitly mentioned in the provided information. However, the galaxy's immense size and radio-emitting lobes suggest dynamic processes involving high-energy particles and plasma, contributing to its unique characteristics.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Distance
Situated 3 billion light-years away, Alcyoneus resides at a considerable distance from Earth. This vast cosmic separation emphasizes the challenges astronomers face in studying and comprehending the intricacies of galaxies located far beyond our immediate cosmic neighborhood.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Type
Alcyoneus is classified as a giant radio galaxy, a fascinating astronomical phenomenon characterized by a host galaxy, colossal jets, and lobes erupting from the galactic center. Understanding the properties and behaviors of this galaxy type opens avenues for unraveling the mysteries of galactic evolution.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Number of Stars
The exact number of stars within Alcyoneus Galaxy is not provided in the available information. However, as a giant radio galaxy, it encompasses a vast cluster of stars orbiting a galactic nucleus containing a supermassive black hole, contributing to the galaxy's overall structure.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Planets
Details about specific planets within Alcyoneus Galaxy are not outlined in the given information. The focus of the available data is on the galaxy's size, mass, structure, and its role as a giant radio galaxy, leaving planetary composition and characteristics unspecified.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Facts
Alcyoneus, discovered through the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) in Europe, stands as the largest known structure made by a single galaxy. With a projected proper length of nearly 5 megaparsecs, it provides a captivating opportunity to enhance our understanding of giant radio galaxies and their unique growth mechanisms.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Black Hole Size
At the center of Alcyoneus lies a supermassive black hole, approximately 400 million times the mass of the Sun. Despite being at the lower end for giant radio galaxies, this black hole contributes to the processes generating the massive radio lobes observed in Alcyoneus.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Black Hole Name
The specific name of the supermassive black hole at the center of Alcyoneus Galaxy is not provided in the available information. Further research and observations may unveil additional details about this crucial component influencing the galaxy's distinctive features.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Discovery
Alcyoneus Galaxy, named after the Greek primordial god of the sky, was discovered approximately 3 billion light-years away. This colossal celestial structure was found by astronomers utilizing data from the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR), an interferometric network of around 20,000 radio antennas distributed across Europe.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Structure
Alcyoneus Galaxy showcases two massive plasma plumes emitted from its galactic center, extending over 16 million light-years. These jet streams, traveling at nearly the speed of light, represent the largest known structure of galactic origin, offering a captivating glimpse into the dynamics of radio galaxies.
Alcyoneus Galaxy and Radio Emission
The radio lobes of Alcyoneus play a crucial role in understanding its structure. These lobes, interacting with the intergalactic medium, act as a synchrotron, accelerating electrons that produce radio emission. The faintness of Alcyoneus initially posed challenges for detection, emphasizing the need for advanced observational techniques.
Alcyoneus Galaxy and Cosmic Web
The discovery of Alcyoneus may contribute to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmic web, the intricate network connecting galaxies. Positioned within a filament of the cosmic web, Alcyoneus presents an opportunity to investigate the intergalactic medium's role in shaping the massive plasma plumes observed in giant radio galaxies.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Environmental Clues
Despite its colossal size, Alcyoneus and its host galaxy exhibit characteristics considered ordinary. With a total low-frequency luminosity density, stellar mass, and supermassive black hole mass at the lower end for giant radio galaxies, Alcyoneus challenges assumptions about the necessary conditions for large giant radio galaxy growth.
Alcyoneus Galaxy Future Investigations
The astronomers involved in the discovery of Alcyoneus plan to conduct further investigations into its environment. Exploring the surroundings of Alcyoneus may provide valuable insights into the factors contributing to its unusual growth and the interactions with the intergalactic medium.
Beyond the Ordinary
Alcyoneus is not just an ordinary galaxy; it's a colossal entity in the vast cosmic tapestry. With lobed structures expanding over an astonishing 5 megaparsecs (16 million light-years), it claims the title of the "largest known structure of galactic origin." In comparison, the well-known 3C 236 galaxy, with lobes spanning 15 million light-years, pales in size before the cosmic grandeur of Alcyoneus.
Galactic Coordinates
Situated at Right Ascension 08h 14m 21.68s and Declination +52° 24′ 10.08″, Alcyoneus orchestrates its celestial dance in the Lynx constellation. The galactic coordinates unveil a redshift of 0.24674±0.00006, propelling its Heliocentric radial velocity to 73,969.90±17.69 km/s. In the vast cosmic arena, it claims its place 3.5 billion light-years (1.1 Gpc) away from Earth.
Alcyoneus in Mythology
In a nod to Greek mythology, Alcyoneus draws its name from the giant Alcyoneus. Just as the mythological figure looms large, the galaxy echoes this enormity, carving its place in the cosmic narrative.
Discovering Alcyoneus
The unveiling of Alcyoneus came through meticulous observations using the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) Two-metre Sky Survey (LoTSS). The galaxy's three-component radio structure, visible at multiple spatial resolutions, captivated astronomers. Confirmations through radio-optical overlays dismissed doubt, affirming that Alcyoneus is a singular celestial entity.
Giant Radio Galaxy: Alcyoneus's Unique Character
Alcyoneus falls into the elite category of giant radio galaxies, distinguished by the presence of expansive radio lobes generated by relativistic jets fueled by the central galaxy's supermassive black hole. What sets Alcyoneus apart is its low excitation nature, drawing energy primarily from the relativistic processes of the central galaxy's jet rather than radiation from an active galactic nucleus.
Mysteries of the Cosmic Behemoth
As Alcyoneus graces the cosmic stage, questions linger about the origin of its colossal radio emissions. Theories abound, suggesting factors such as a unique cosmic environment, existence within a filament of the cosmic web, a supermassive black hole, an extensive stellar population, or powerful jet streams. The cosmic enigma of Alcyoneus continues to captivate astronomers, urging them to unravel the secrets concealed within its colossal embrace.
Conclusion
Alcyoneus Galaxy emerges as a colossal cosmic entity, defying conventional expectations and offering astronomers a unique opportunity to delve into the mysteries of giant radio galaxies. As research progresses, Alcyoneus may become a key player in advancing our understanding of galactic structures, cosmic webs, and the dynamic processes shaping the vast reaches of the universe.
Alcyoneus Galaxy stands as a beacon in the cosmic sea, inviting astronomers to peer into the unknown realms of galactic dimensions. As telescopes and observatories turn their gaze towards Lynx constellation, Alcyoneus remains an astronomical muse, urging humanity to unravel the mysteries woven into its colossal expanse—a celestial giant with tales yet untold in the cosmic narrative.