--- title: "Astronomers Solve “X-Galaxy” Mystery With Powerful New Telescope" description: "A team of astronomers claim they have solved the mystery behind why some highly active galaxies have four jets of radio waves, forming an X." date: "2020-05-08" modified: "2020-05-08" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/astronomers-x-galaxy-mystery" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "galaxy" - "galaxy image" - "meerkat" - "meerkat radio telescope" - "the digest" --- # Astronomers Solve “X-Galaxy” Mystery With Powerful New Telescope ![A team of astronomers claim they have solved the mystery behind why some highly active galaxies have four jets of radio waves, forming an X.]() *\Image: NRAO/AUI/NSF; SARAO; DES\* ## X-Galaxy A team of astronomers at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARO) [claim they've solved]() the mystery behind why some galaxies shoot four jets of radio waves outwards, forming an "X" shape in the sky. Many galaxies only shoot out two jets of radio waves. Some active galaxies, however, have four — a strange phenomenon astronomers have tried to explain for years. ## MeerKAT Using observations from the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa, a radio observatory consisting of 64 antennas, the team closely examined a galaxy with four jets of radio wave plumes called PKS 2014-55 some 80o million light years from Earth. They found that material tends to flow towards the center of the galaxy and "turn the corner" due to "pressure of tenuous intergalactic gas," according to [a statement](), flowing down the second arm of the two respective twin jets of radio waves — strong evidence that the strange galaxies could be the result of two black holes deflecting material in different directions, forming the "X." ## Mega Telescope The discovery was thanks to MeerKAT's incredible resolution. Astronomers used computers to combine data from its 64 antennas into the equivalent of an eight-kilometer-wide dish. "It’s wonderful to see how its unique capabilities are contributing to resolving longstanding questions related to the evolution of galaxies," noted Bernie Fanaroff, former director of project that built MeerKAT, and a co-author of the study, in [a statement](). **READ MORE:** [Mysterious 'X-galaxy' reveals its secret in powerful telescope image]() \[*CNET*\] **More on galaxy mysteries:** *[PHYSICIST: OUR GALAXY MAY BE LOCATED INSIDE AN ENORMOUS BUBBLE]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()