FALCON POWERS – Astronomers from the University of New Mexico have announced the discovery of a new rare type of active galaxy, dubbed the “Green Bean” galaxy.
“Green Bean” galaxies are extremely rare, active galaxies that glow green under the intense radiation from the region surrounding their central supermassive black hole. So far, only 17 such galaxies have been identified through the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Astronomers believe their rarity is due to these sources going through a short-lived evolutionary phase.
Now, a team of astronomers led by Kellie Sanderson have discovered another example of this rare type of galaxy, after spotting an extended radio-emitting source in the sky, known as RGZ J123300.2+060325.
Through analyzing the spectral age of the extended radio emission, the astronomers found that the jet production phase from the active galactic nucleus lasts for at least 6 million years.
The production of jets indicates the process by which some celestial objects, such as active galactic nuclei, generate and emit powerful jets of charged particles, composed of electrons and protons accompanied by magnetic fields. These jets are propelled at speeds approaching the speed of light and can extend for thousands to millions of light-years into space.
