The ancient galaxy's magnetic field, 16,000 light-years across, is the furthest astronomers have ever detected.
It’s not known how early magnetic fields formed around galaxies, so the new finding importantly pushes back that timeline. The astronomers used ALMA to observe 9io9, a lensed galaxy at a redshift of z=2.6. The galaxy’s light took 11 billion years to reach ALMA’s detectors in northern Chile.To ALMA, the galaxy appears as it did when it was 2.5 billion years old. Its ancient magnetic fields could help astronomers understand how magnetic fields developed in other galaxies in the early universe.
The researchers“Many people might not be aware that our entire galaxy and other galaxies are laced with magnetic fields, spanning tens of thousands of light-years,” said James Geach, an astrophysicist at the University of Hertfordshire and the study’s lead author, in a European Southern ObservatoryAdvertisementTo find the magnetic field, the researchers looked at dust in 9io9. When a magnetic field is present, the grains of dust align themselves, and the light they emit is polarized.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Researchers confirm furthest ever detection of a galaxy's magnetic fieldUsing the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), astronomers have detected the magnetic field of a galaxy so far away that its light has taken more than 11 billion years to reach us: We see it as it was when the universe was just 2.5 billion years old. The result provides astronomers with vital clues about how the magnetic fields of galaxies like our own Milky Way came to be.
Read more »
End of Summer Art Jam set in Dauphin County with food trucks, artistsEver Grain Brewing Co. is sponsoring the first-ever event.
Read more »
‘I don’t like it’: Hugh Freeze facing the challenge of ‘embracing’ Cal tripThe furthest west Hugh Freeze has gone in his head coaching career was Provo, Utah.
Read more »
Astronomers discover new massive quiescent galaxyAstronomers report the discovery of a new massive and quiescent galaxy at a high redshift. The galaxy, which received designation COSMOS-1047519, was detected using the Keck I telescope. The finding was detailed in a paper published August 29 on the pre-print server arXiv.
Read more »
Astronomers Uncover Exoplanet With an Unprecedented OrbitUsing TESS, scientists identified two long-period exoplanets, TOI-4600 b and c. These discoveries open new research avenues in understanding exoplanets, and the findings emphasize the significance of collaborative efforts, including contributions from amateur astronomers. Scientists from The Univ
Read more »
New ring galaxy discovered by Indian astronomersBy analyzing the data from the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS), astronomers from the Christ University in Bangalore, India, have serendipitously discovered a new ring galaxy, which received designation DES J024008.08-551047.5 and may belong to the rare class of polar ring galaxies. The finding was reported in a paper published August 29 on the pre-print server arXiv.
Read more »