A galaxy has changed its morphology due to unique activity within its core, becoming an extremely rare radio giant galaxy in the universe, according to a recently published study by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).
The Galaxy PBC J2333.9-2343 emits jets at close to the speed of light.
The Galaxy PBC J2333.9-2343 emits rays at speeds close to the speed of light. (Photo: RĄS).
Galaxy PBC J2333.9-2343 located 656,844,372 light years from Earth, formerly classified as a radio galaxy. Galaxies emitting radio waves are quite common in the universe, but there are only a few hundred galaxies with radio jets longer than 2.2 million light years. Such giant radio galaxies are considered rare in the universe.
However, astronomers discovered that PBS J2333.9-2343 had recently changed its morphology, becomes a giant radio galaxy with a blazar core and a diameter of up to 4 million light years.
Blazar is an “active galactic nucleus” (AGN), emits gamma rays and radio waves at speeds close to the speed of light. Blazar possesses great energy and is considered one of the most powerful phenomena in the universe.
Image of the galaxy PBC J2333.9-2343 (bright point in the center of the image).
Image of the galaxy PBC J2333.9-2343 (bright point in the center of the photo). (Photo: RAS).
“Blazar emits rays consisting of charged elementary particles such as electrons or protons traveling at close to the speed of light. They travel in circles around a strong magnetic field, emitting radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum “explains the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).
The new discovery of PBC J2333.9-2343 comes from the fact that the rays emitted by this galaxy have unusually strengthened and changed direction. “an angle of up to 90 degrees”towards Earth.
“This galaxy has strange properties that require further attention and observation.” Dr Lorena Hernández-García from the MAS Institute of Astrophysics (Chile), lead author of the study, said.
Explaining the morphological changes of PBC J2333.9-2343, according to the British Royal Astronomical Society, The blazar in PBC J2333.9-2343 could come from the black hole at the center of the galaxy. Once directed toward Earth, jets from the core of the blazar easily increase in intensity, transforming an early galaxy into a giant radio galaxy.
The research team still doesn’t know what caused the emission rays to be redirected. They speculate that PBC J2333.9-2343 merged with another galaxy or that the galaxy’s core exploded spontaneously.
To study this unusual galaxy, astronomers must observe it over a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum using data from leading German and American observatories. They then compared the properties of PBC J2333.9-2343 with other galaxies using data provided by the ALeRCE project in Chile.
Article source: Zing
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According to a study recently published by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), the Galaxy has changed its morphology due to unique activity within its core…
