Astronomers explain how strange X-shaped galaxies are formed

A team of astronomers discovered how black holes can trigger the formation of galaxies with x-shaped structures

A team of astronomers explained how certain x-shaped galaxies are formed. According to their observations, the black holes at the center of galaxies play a huge role in forming their structures.

The team featured members of the South African Radio Astronomer Observatory, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the University of Pretoria and Rhodes University. They presented their findings through a new study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

X-Shaped Galaxy
The galaxy PKS 2014-55, located 800 million light years from Earth, is classified as ‘X-shaped’ because of its appearance in previous relatively blurry images. The detail provided in this radio image obtained with the MeerKAT telescope indicates that its shape is best described as a ‘double boomerang’. NRAO/AUI/NSF; SARAO; DES

Nature Of X-Shaped Galaxies

Usually, galaxies such as Milky Way have twin jets of radio waves that extend far into their surroundings. These jets, which move in opposite directions, originate from the black hole at the galactic center.

Some galaxies, however, have four jets emanating from their centers. This causes the galaxy to form an x-shaped structure. One theory regarding the formation of these kinds of galaxies suggests a change in the directional spin of the central black hole. As it spins, the jets of radio waves flowing from it also moves.

Observing X-Shaped Galaxies

Recently, a team of astronomers was able to observe x-shaped galaxies and their black holes. Through their observations, the astronomers were able to understand how these kinds of galaxies were formed. The astronomers were able to clearly observe the galaxies using the MeerKAT telescope, which consists of 64 radio dishes in the Karoo desert in South Africa's Northern Cape Province.

Through MeerKat, the astronomers were able to observe the x-shaped galaxies in great detail. It allowed them to see how the black hole assisted in the formation of the galaxy's strange shape. "MeerKAT is one of a new generation of instruments whose power solves old puzzles even as it finds new ones—this galaxy shows features never seen before in this detail which are not fully understood," William Cotton, the lead author of the study, said in a statement.

Quasar
This is an illustration of a distant galaxy with an active quasar at its center. A quasar emits exceptionally large amounts of energy generated by a supermassive black hole fueled by infalling matter. Using the unique capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered that blistering radiation pressure from the vicinity of the black hole pushes material away from the galaxy's center at a fraction of the speed of light. The "quasar winds" are propelling hundreds of solar masses of material each year. This affects the entire galaxy as the material snowplows into surrounding gas and dust. NASA, ESA and J. Olmsted STScI

How Black Holes Shape Galaxies

According to the astronomers, as the central black holes of galaxies continue to feed, some cosmic materials often fall back into the galaxy. As they return to the galaxy, they get deflected into different directions, adding two more jets of radio waves. An x-shaped structure then appears as four jets of radio waves extend from the galactic center.

Related topics : Space Universe
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