Johannesburg, South Africa – The MeerKAT telescope in South Africa has discovered a giant radio galaxy (GRG) that is 32 times larger than the Milky Way, according to a researcher at the University of Cape Town.   

Dr. Jacinta Delhaize, who led the team that made the discovery, said that the new GRG is "very special." The galaxy's plasma jets are over 3.3 million light-years wide, making it the largest GRG ever discovered.

The galaxy, which has been nicknamed "Inkathazo" (meaning "the troublemaker" in the Xhosa and Zulu languages), is located about 1.44 billion light-years from Earth. Dr. Delhaize said that the name was chosen because the galaxy has been difficult to study.

"The astrophysical background related to Inkathazo is very complex," she said. "We have not yet been able to fully understand it."

The discovery was reported in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society on January 17, 2025.

GRGs are rare galaxies that are found in the distant universe. They emit radio waves that are powered by energy from supermassive black holes at their centers.   

The MeerKAT telescope is located in the Karoo region of South Africa. It is made up of 64 radio dishes and is operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO).   

In 2028, MeerKAT will be replaced by the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), which will be the world's largest telescope. The SKA is a multinational project that is being built by a consortium of 10 countries, including China.   

The discovery of Inkathazo is a major scientific breakthrough. It will help astronomers to better understand the evolution of galaxies and the role of supermassive black holes.

Additional details:

The plasma jets of Inkathazo are over 3.3 million light-years wide.
Inkathazo is located about 1.44 billion light-years from Earth.   

Inkathazo is the largest GRG ever discovered.
The MeerKAT telescope is located in the Karoo region of South Africa.   

The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) will be the world's largest telescope when it is completed in 2028.   

This is an exciting time for astronomy. The discovery of Inkathazo is just one example of the many new and exciting discoveries that are being made by astronomers around the world. With the launch of new telescopes like the SKA, we can expect to learn even more about the universe in the years to come.

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