radio galaxy
Quick Summary
These images of dwarf galaxy 3C 265 (left), 3C 324 (centre), and 3C 368 (right), a galaxy whose main radio emissions are probably caused by a gas jet along one axis, combine observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope with radio source maps (blue contour lines) made by the Very Large Array Radio Interferometer.
A radio galaxy is a galaxy that emits powerful radio waves. These galaxies often have a distinctive structure related to the cause of their radio emissions. Many are found within large clusters of galaxies.12
A common characteristic is a central galaxy surrounded by much larger, two-lobed radio sources. These lobes are formed by energetic events in the galaxy's nucleus, which expel hot gas at nearly the speed of light. This ejected material generates synchrotron radiation, which is detected as radio waves. The immense energy output is thought to be linked to supermassive black holes at the galaxy's center, which capture surrounding material, forming accretion disks and ejecting matter.2
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
