Cosmic ‘ORC’: Skywatchers detect strongest ‘peculiar radio ring’ to date

A static shot extracted from the RAD J131346.9+500320 animation. (Image attribution: RAD@home Astronomy Collaboratory (India))

With contributions from amateur astronomers, professional stargazers have identified the most potent “peculiar radio circle” (ORC) so far. This finding might provide specialists with a deeper insight into the creation of these atypical objects — and the galaxies enclosed by them.

“ORCs rank amongst the strangest and most stunning formations we’ve ever encountered in space — and they may possess crucial information regarding the parallel evolution of galaxies and black holes,” stated Ananda Hota, originator of the RAD@home Astronomy Collaboratory and co-author of an upcoming article outlining these observations.

ORCs were initially characterized in 2019 by a group employing the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder. They are fundamentally immense, indistinct halos of plasma that seemingly envelop particular galaxies, emitting radio signals. To date, only approximately a dozen of these colossal entities — the majority being 10 to 20 times larger than the Milky Way — have been detected. Nevertheless, scientists hypothesize that the newly discovered ORC could present some indications concerning the genesis of these cosmic giants.

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This ORC is exceptional due to several factors. Initially, it comprises not just one, but a duo of intertwined rings, resembling a Venn diagram. This represents only the second instance where astronomers have witnessed such an arrangement. Moreover, it stands as the most remote and vigorous ORC identified thus far. The investigators presented their conclusions in an article released on Oct. 2 within the publication Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

The novel rings were initially spotlighted by amateur scientists engaging with the RAD@home Astronomy Collaboratory, a global citizen science exploration initiative originally started in India. Subsequently, a cohort of astronomers verified these rings through the utilization of the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR), a network of radio telescopes dispersed across mainland Europe, designating it as RAD J131346.9+500320.

“The discovery by citizen scientists underscores the sustained significance of human visual cognition, even in this period of machine learning,” commented Pratik Dabhade, an astronomer associated with the National Center for Nuclear Research in Poland and a contributing author of the latest article.

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Prior studies have suggested that ORCs could materialize as a result of supermassive black holes colliding, thus initiating cosmic shockwaves. However, RAD J131346.9+500320’s paired rings are focused around a jet-esque stream of gas. Based on this formation, Dabhade and his team surmise that it may have been molded by “super winds” emanating from the spiral galaxies it encompasses. This premise may also apply to other ORCs; however, additional research is needed for definitive confirmation.

In conjunction with RAD J131346.9+500320, the article details two further discoveries made in partnership with the RAD@home Astronomy Collaboratory: a galaxy spanning 3 million light-years, encased in a radio ring, and another galaxy featuring a ring surrounding one of its substantial jets. Subsequent explorations employing LOFAR and other observatories, like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, might contribute further insights into these configurations.

Joanna ThompsonSocial Links NavigationLive Science Contributor

Joanna Thompson works as a science reporter and is a runner located in New York. She earned a B.S. in Zoology and a B.A. in Creative Writing from North Carolina State University, along with a Master’s degree in Science Journalism from NYU’s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. Her other works appear in Scientific American, The Daily Beast, Atlas Obscura, and Audubon Magazine.

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