Astronomers have discovered a remarkable phenomenon known as “strange radio circles” (ORCs) in a distant galaxy, specifically the new ORC named Rad J131346.9+500320. This ORC is unique for being the most distant and powerful found to date, visible when the universe was just half its current age of 13.8 billion years. The discovery was made by volunteers in the Rad@Home Astronomy Collaboratory program in Mumbai using a network of antennas called Lofar.
The ORC consists of two overlapping rings, reflecting a double-ring phenomenon previously unseen. These structures could be the result of shock waves from black holes or galaxy fusions, with each ring measuring around 300,000 light years across and part of a larger radio cloud spanning 3 million light years. The findings contribute to our understanding of how galaxies can influence their environments.
Additionally, the program identified two more ORCs, showcasing how galaxies can create expansive structures in space through powerful jets and winds. Researchers believe these ORCs represent a wider family of exotic plasma structures.
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