Alcyoneus Galaxy: Type, Location, Discovery

The Alcyoneus Galaxy is a radio galaxy located in the constellation Lynx. Astronomers have identified Alcyoneus Galaxy’s type, location, and details of its discovery. Alcyoneus Galaxy holds the record for being the largest known galaxy in the universe. Learn about Alcyoneus Galaxy’s size, unique structure, and the radio emissions it produces. Alcyoneus Galaxy challenges our understanding of galactic formation and evolution. The Alcyoneus Galaxy provides insights into the nature of supermassive black holes and their influence on galaxy growth.

Alcyoneus Galaxy is classified as a low-excitation Fanaroff-Riley Class II radio galaxy. It possesses jets and lobes of radio emission, emitting energy in the form of radio waves with a luminosity of 10^26 Watts per Hertz. The Alcyoneus Galaxy is located in the constellation Lynx, with coordinates 08h 58m 38.1s +34° 01′ 35″ (J2000 epoch). The galaxy spans a width of 16.3 million light-years, extending 5 megaparsecs in space.

Dr. Martijn Oei, a Ph.D. student at Leiden University, led a team of astronomers who discovered the Alcyoneus Galaxy in 2022. The discovery utilized data from the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope, a radio interferometer with a virtual diameter of over 1,000 kilometers (0.621 mile). Astronomers detected Alcyoneus in the LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS), which aims to map the entire northern sky at low radio frequencies.

The Alcyoneus Galaxy measures 16,000,000 light-years across, making it 160 times larger than the Milky Way and 4 times larger than IC 1101. It ranks as one of the known galaxies in the universe, dwarfing the Milky Way’s 100,000 light-year diameter. The Alcyoneus Galaxy features powerful relativistic jets emanating from its central supermassive black hole, terminating in radio lobes that extend up to 3.9 megaparsecs from the galaxy’s core.

The Alcyoneus Galaxy is situated 3.5 billion light-years away from Earth. Scientists measured this distance using spectroscopic redshift, with a value of z = 0.247. Researchers analyzed the galaxy’s light spectrum to determine its velocity and calculate the distance, as reported in a 2020 study published in The Astrophysical Journal.

What is the Alcyoneus Galaxy?

Alcyoneus is a Fanaroff-Riley class II radio galaxy located 3.5 billion light-years away in the constellation Lynx. SDSS J081421.68+522410.0 hosts this radio galaxy. Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope discovered Alcyoneus in 2020. Alcyoneus spans over 5 megaparsecs, making it one of the largest known radio galaxies. Alcyoneus challenges understanding of galaxy evolution due to its low-excitation nature.

The Alcyoneus Galaxy is classified as a low-excitation Fanaroff-Riley Class II radio galaxy, possessing jets and lobes of radio emission. The galaxy emits an amount of energy in the form of radio waves, with a luminosity of 10^26 Watts per Hertz. Alcyoneus ranks as one of the brightest radio galaxies in the sky, making it an important target for radio astronomy studies. The radio emission is powered by a supermassive black hole at the galaxy’s center, which accretes material and emits jets of energy detectable from millions of light-years away.

What type of galaxy is the Alcyoneus Galaxy?

Alcyoneus is a radio galaxy, spanning 5 megaparsecs. Giant radio galaxies exhibit radio lobes exceeding 1 megaparsec in diameter. Alcyoneus features powerful relativistic jets emanating from its central supermassive black hole, terminating in radio lobes. Scientists discovered Alcyoneus in 2021 using LOFAR telescope data.

Alcyoneus generates radio lobes extending beyond its visible galactic boundaries. These radio lobes are powered by a supermassive black hole residing at the galaxy’s center. Researchers have detected jets and lobes in Alcyoneus, extending up to 3.9 megaparsecs from its core. The total projected linear size of Alcyoneus reaches 5 megaparsecs, making it one of the largest known galaxies in the universe.

Alcyoneus exceeds the size of normal elliptical galaxies. Its scale and radio emissions have made it a subject of intense scientific interest. MSSL Oei, RJ van Weeren, and MJ Hardcastle published a study on Alcyoneus in Astronomy & Astrophysics in 2022, confirming its status as a giant radio galaxy. M. Simonte conducted research on giant radio galaxies in LOFAR deep fields in 2024, providing insights into the nature of these behemoths.

Where is the Alcyoneus Galaxy located?

The Alcyoneus Galaxy is located in the constellation Lynx. Constellation Lynx contains coordinates 08h 58m 38.1s +34° 01′ 35″ (J2000 epoch). Alcyoneus lies 3 billion light-years from Earth. LOFAR radio telescope discovered Alcyoneus in 2020. Martijn Oei from University of Leiden led the discovery team, collaborating with Oxford University and NRAO researchers.

The Alcyoneus Galaxy spans a width of 16.3 million light-years. Its structure extends 5 megaparsecs in space, making it one of the largest known galaxies in the universe. Alcyoneus dwarfs the Milky Way galaxy, which measures 100,000 light-years in diameter.

Who discovered the Alcyoneus Galaxy?

A team of astronomers led by Martijn Oei discovered the Alcyoneus galaxy. Martijn Oei, a Ph.D. student at Leiden University, played a role. Dr. Rafaël Mostert led the team, which included researchers from the Netherlands, UK, and other countries. The discovery utilized the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope’s data in 2022.

Dr. J. van Moorsel from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) led a team that conducted observations of Alcyoneus using the Large Array (VLA) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). These observations provided insights into the structure and properties of this massive galaxy.

When was the Alcyoneus Galaxy discovered?

The Alcyoneus Galaxy was reported in a paper published February 2022. Martijn Oei and colleagues discovered it using results from the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) sky survey (LoTSS). LoTSS is an interferometric radio survey of the northern sky that has uncovered over 200 new giant galaxies.

What are some facts about the Alcyoneus Galaxy?

Martijn Oei led a team of astronomers who discovered Alcyoneus in 2022. Alcyoneus is 16 times larger than the Milky Way. Alcyoneus ranks as one of the largest galaxies in the universe. Martijn Oei’s team used the Low-Frequency Array telescope for the discovery.

Some facts about the Alcyoneus galaxy are provided below.

• Alcyoneus Galaxy size: Largest known galaxy in the universe, measuring 16,000,000 light-years across.
• The Alcyoneus Galaxy compared to other galaxies: 4 times larger than IC 1101 and 160 times larger than the Milky Way.
• Alcyoneus Galaxy dimensions: Spans 16.3 million light-years and reaches 5 megaparsecs from its center.
• Alcyoneus Galaxy location: Situated in the constellation Lynx, 3.5 billion light-years from Earth.
• Alcyoneus Galaxy discovery: Found in February 2022 using data from the LOFAR telescope.
• Alcyoneus Galaxy’s host: SDSS J081421.68+522410.0 serves as its host galaxy.
• Alcyoneus as a radio galaxy: Classified as a low-excitation radio galaxy.
• Alcyoneus galaxy type: Considered a Fanaroff-Riley Class II galaxy.
• Alcyoneus name origin: Named after a giant from Greek mythology.
• Research on Alcyoneus galaxy: Studied for insights into galaxy evolution and formation processes.

Does the Alcyoneus Galaxy have a black hole?

The Alcyoneus Galaxy harbors a supermassive black hole at its center. Supermassive black holes are common features in large galaxies, and Alcyoneus is no exception. The galaxy’s mass is estimated at 1.4 x 10^12 solar masses, with a stellar mass of 2.5 x 10^11 solar masses. Galaxy mass correlates with central black hole mass, ranging from 0.1% to 1% of the galaxy’s total mass.

The central black hole in the Alcyoneus Galaxy has an estimated mass of 400 million solar masses. This mass is comparable to supermassive black holes found in other giant elliptical galaxies. The black hole’s presence is inferred from the galaxy’s radio emission. Material accretion onto the black hole powers the radio emission, producing radio lobes with a total energy output of 10^45 erg/s. The black hole accretes matter and ejects jets of plasma and radio emissions, extending over 16.3 million light-years.

What is the size of the Alcyoneus Galaxy?

The Alcyoneus Galaxy measures 16,300,000 light-years in diameter. Alcyoneus is 160 times larger than the Milky Way galaxy. Alcyoneus is 4 times larger than IC 1101, the previous largest known galaxy. Scientists discovered Alcyoneus in 2022. Martínez-Lombilla et al. published studies on Alcyoneus in Astronomy & Astrophysics and The Astrophysical Journal.

How is the Alcyoneus Galaxy compared to the Milky Way?

The Alcyoneus Galaxy dwarfs the Milky Way in size and mass. Astronomers discovered Alcyoneus has a diameter 160 times wider than the Milky Way, measuring 16 million light-years across. Alcyoneus possesses 100 times more mass than the Milky Way, totaling 100 trillion solar masses. Alcyoneus is classified as a giant elliptical and radio galaxy.

Alcyoneus and the Milky Way differ in their classifications. Astronomers categorize Alcyoneus as a normal elliptical galaxy with a spherical shape and random star distribution. The Milky Way is classified as a spiral galaxy featuring arms of stars, gas, and dust arranged in a rotating disk. Alcyoneus lacks the sweeping spiral arms and processes that shape the Milky Way’s structure. Both galaxies contain supermassive black holes at their centers, with Alcyoneus hosting a black hole of 10^9 solar masses compared to the Milky Way’s 4 x 10^6 solar masses.

Which is larger, the Alcyoneus Galaxy or IC 1101?

Alcyoneus is larger than IC 1101. Alcyoneus, the largest known galaxy, has a diameter of 16 million light-years. IC 1101, one of the largest galaxies, measures around 6 million light-years in diameter. Astronomers determine galaxy sizes using telescopes to measure angular diameter and calculate linear diameter based on distance.

Alcyoneus is classified as a radio galaxy. Its radio lobes stretch out to 20 million light-years in length. IC 1101 is not categorized as a radio galaxy, lacking such extensive radio structures.

The extent of stars in Alcyoneus surpasses that of IC 1101. Alcyoneus possesses a vast stellar halo stretching out to a radius of 8 million light-years. IC 1101’s extent reaches 3 million light-years in radius. The Alcyoneus Galaxy dwarfs many other galaxies in the universe, including the record holder IC 1101.

What is the age of the Alcyoneus Galaxy?

The age of the Alcyoneus Galaxy remains unknown. Astronomers estimate the minimum age of Alcyoneus to be at least 16 million years. Scientists base this estimate on the galaxy’s size and the time required for its expansion. The lobe of Alcyoneus has an estimated age of 2.28 million years. Researchers consider this lobe young in astronomical terms. Light from Alcyoneus has traveled through space for 3 billion years to reach Earth. Observers see Alcyoneus as it appeared 3 billion years ago. The state of Alcyoneus is 3 billion years older than what is observed. The age of Alcyoneus exceeds hundreds of millions of years. Some scientists believe Alcyoneus is billions of years old. The Alcyoneus galactic system has a complex age profile with components having varying ages.

How many stars are in the Alcyoneus Galaxy?

The Alcyoneus Galaxy contains an estimated 100 trillion stars or more. Astronomers base this figure on observations and simulations of the galaxy’s structure and evolution.

The stellar mass of the Alcyoneus Galaxy is 240 billion solar masses. Researchers calculate this mass using advanced observational techniques and computer models. The Alcyoneus Galaxy outweighs the Milky Way in both star count and mass. The Milky Way contains between 200-400 billion stars and has a stellar mass of 100 billion solar masses. The Alcyoneus Galaxy is 2-5 times as massive as our home galaxy. The size and star population of the Alcyoneus Galaxy contribute to its status as one of the largest and most massive galaxies in the universe.

How far is the Alcyoneus Galaxy from Earth?

The Alcyoneus Galaxy is located 3.5 billion light-years away from Earth. Scientists measured this distance using spectroscopic redshift with a value of z = 0.247. Researchers analyzed the galaxy’s light spectrum to determine its velocity and calculate the distance. The measurement was reported in a 2020 study published in The Astrophysical Journal.

Can you see the Alcyoneus Galaxy through the telescope?

The Alcyoneus Galaxy is not visible through a telescope.  This distance places it beyond the reach of the most powerful optical telescopes. Alcyoneus is classified as a radio galaxy. Radio galaxies emit radio waves rather than visible light. The distance and nature of Alcyoneus make it impossible to observe with conventional telescopes. Astronomers discovered Alcyoneus using radio telescope data. The Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope network in Europe detected Alcyoneus. The galaxy’s size and radio emissions require advanced radio astronomy techniques for detection and study.