Washington – SABA:
For the first time, astronomers have detected a massive cloud of energetic subatomic particles enveloping a giant galaxy cluster known as “PLCK G287.0+32.9.”
Galaxy clusters are among the largest known structures in the observable universe—vast gatherings of galaxies held together by gravity. This particular discovery has revealed a cloud spanning about 20 million light-years, nearly 200 times the diameter of our Milky Way galaxy.
According to Al Jazeera Net, which reported on Monday, the findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal. The galaxy cluster lies about 5 billion light-years from Earth, and it was initially discovered in 2011 using a combination of terrestrial and space-based observatories.
The new study, led by researchers from the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard University, was unveiled during a press conference at the 246th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Anchorage, Alaska.
The discovery relied on X-ray data collected by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, appearing in the new imagery as blue and violet hues. Additional data came from the MeerKAT Radio Telescope in South Africa—one of the world’s most powerful radio observatories—which provided the orange and yellow tones. Furthermore, visible light data was obtained using the Pan-STARRS telescope located atop Mount Haleakalā on the Hawaiian island of Maui, known for its clear and high-altitude skies.
This exceptional cloud appears to be powered in an unusual way—through giant shockwaves and gas turbulence within the cluster. Unlike typical galaxy clusters, where such emissions are found mostly around the edges, this cloud completely envelops the entire cluster.
These findings raise intriguing questions about the nature of such clouds and offer new insights into long-standing mysteries—such as: How do electrons in these clouds maintain their energy across such vast distances and time scales?
This discovery marks a significant step forward in understanding cosmic structures and the energetic environments that shape our universe.