2MASX J10222849+5006200

Lore & Background

2MASX J10222849+5006200 is the brightest cluster galaxy of Abell 980, an X-ray luminous cluster with a temperature of 7.1 keV. The galaxy itself has an ellipsoidal stellar halo measuring about 80 kpc and hosts two diffuse ultra-steep spectrum radio sources extending roughly 100 kpc. In August 2022, astronomers led by Surajit Paul from Savitribai Phule Pune University detected a burst of radio jet activity from its central black hole, identifying the first pair of radio lobes as the oldest such lobes ever observed. These lobes were formed 260 million years ago and span 1.2 million light-years in length, as measured using the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope.

Reader's Guide

2MASX J10222849+5006200 is significant as one of the largest known galaxies and as a rare example of a 'Detached-Double-Double Radio Galaxy' (dDDRG). Its importance lies in the discovery that the galaxy has drifted 250,000 light-years from its original position in the cluster center, causing its old and young radio lobes to lose collinearity. This drift, identified by a team led by Gopal-Krishna, suggests that the galaxy underwent a new active phase after moving, creating a second, younger set of radio lobes. The resulting dDDRG system provides astronomers with a unique laboratory to study galaxy-cluster interactions, black hole activity cycles, and the dynamics of radio jets over cosmic timescales. The observations, made using the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope, highlight the role of galaxy motion in shaping radio structures and offer insights into the evolution of brightest cluster galaxies.

Did You Know?

• 2MASX J10222849+5006200 has a diameter of almost 660,000 light-years, making it one of the largest known galaxies.
• The galaxy's first pair of radio lobes, discovered in August 2022, are the oldest such lobes ever observed by astronomers.
• The galaxy drifted 250,000 light-years from its original position in the Abell 980 cluster center.
• It is classified as a 'Detached-Double-Double Radio Galaxy' (dDDRG) due to its two sets of non-collinear radio lobes.