Alcyoneus (galaxy)
SDSS J081421.68+522410.0 | |
---|---|
billion light-years (1.1 Gpc) | |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 17.16 |
Characteristics | |
Type | E (purported with 89% chance)[1] |
Mass | 2.4×1011 M☉ |
Size | 242,700 ly (74.40 kpc) (diameter; 25.0 r-mag/arcsec2) |
Notable features | Giant radio galaxy |
Other designations | |
Alcyoneus, 2MASS J08142169+5224103, WISEA J081421.70+522410.0 | |
References: [2] |
Alcyoneus is a low-excitation,
Aside from the size of its radio emissions, the central galaxy is otherwise of ordinary radio luminosity, stellar mass, and supermassive black hole mass. It is a standalone galaxy with an isophotal diameter at 25.0 r-mag/arcsec2 of about 242,700 light-years (74.40 kpc), with the nearest cluster located 11 million light years away from it.[1] The galaxy was named after the giant Alcyoneus from Greek mythology.[1]
Discovery
Alcyoneus had been first reported in a paper published in February 2022 by Martijn Oei and colleagues after obtaining results from the
Characteristics
Alcyoneus has been described as a giant
The central host galaxy of Alcyoneus has a stellar mass of 240 billion solar masses (2.4×1011 M☉), with its central supermassive black hole estimated to have a mass of 390±170 million solar masses ((3.9±1.7)×108 M☉); both typical for elliptical galaxies, but substantially lower than for similar galaxies generating giant radio sources.[1]
It is currently unknown how Alcyoneus's radio emissions grew so large. One explanation proposes that the radio galaxy’s cosmic web environment might be less dense than that of other giant radio galaxies, leading to a lower resistance to growth. In comparison to other known giant radio galaxies, Alcyoneus does not appear to have a particularly massive stellar population or central black hole, or particularly powerful jet streams.[3]
See also
Notes
- ^ Various media outlets at the time of Alcyoneus's announcement described it as "the largest galaxy known", however this is misleading. It has the largest radio ejecta of any radio galaxy, which are not often taken into consideration in determining galaxy sizes. For details about how physical diameters of galaxies are measured, see Galaxy#Physical diameters.
References
- ^ S2CID 246823634.
- ^ a b c "Results for WISEA J081421.70+522410.0". NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database.
- ^ a b "Astronomers find largest radio galaxy ever". Universiteit Leiden. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ Turner, Ben (17 February 2022). "Largest galaxy ever discovered baffles scientists". Live Science. Retrieved 18 February 2022.