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Astronomers come up with most detailed map of the universe ever – and it’s out of this world

By observing the universe at low radio frequencies, astronomers can now specify with greater accuracy the number of new stars being formed in the early universe, establish a correlation between the brightness of galaxies on the low radio images and the rate of star formation as well as analyse emissions from around massive black holes or the collision of galaxies.
Cyril Tasse and the LOFAR surveys team

Astronomers have created the most detailed map of the universe providing important new insights into stars, galaxies and black holes through the use of low radio frequencies.

Published by a team of international team including astronomers from Poland’s Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, the map was created using a European network of radio telescopes called LOFAR (Low Frequency Array), three of which are located in Poland near Olsztyn, Poznań and Kraków.

Published by a team of international team including astronomers from Poland’s Nicolas Copernicus University in Toruń, the map was created using a European network of radio telescopes called LOFAR (Low Frequency Array).Philip Best & Jose Sabater, University of Edinburgh

Until now, radio observations have primarily focused on the brightest emissions in the cosmos, such as those generated by huge black holes at the centre of galaxies.

But the new images probe deep enough to reveal details of galaxies, including the Milky Way, which can be seen at the time when it was still being formed.

Observing the universe at low radio frequencies has also enabled astronomers to look deep into areas with a large amount of dust, whose clouds appear at the site of the birth of stars.

It has also been possible to specify with greater accuracy, the number of new stars being formed in the early universe, establish a correlation between the brightness of galaxies on the low radio images and the rate of star formation as well as to analyse emissions from around massive black holes or the collision of galaxies.

Dr Katarzyna Małek from the National Centre for Nuclear Research said: “The map covers the northern part of the sky. Sites of observation were chosen so as to be able to exploit them as completely as possible: so called deep field were selected, which are very well known to astronomers and these were observed in several different spectrum ranges – mainly from ultraviolet to long infrared.”Katarzyna Małek

Altogether, an area of sky equivalent to 300 times the size of a full moon, was analysed for the study. Because observations of certain fragments of sky were repeated, scientists were able to analyse the changes in certain sources.

This led to the discovery that an exotic red-dwarf star, the CR Draconis, experienced an explosion of radio emissions similar in scale to those found on Jupiter.

With the aid of specially prepared superfast internet connection, the stations are connected with the LOFAR computer centre in Groningen (The Netherlands), to which data from observations is continually transmitted.LOFAR

Dr Katarzyna Małek from the National Centre for Nuclear Research and a participant in the study said: “The map covers the northern part of the sky. Sites of observation were chosen so as to be able to exploit them as completely as possible: so called deep field were selected, which are very well known to astronomers and these were observed in several different spectrum ranges – mainly from ultraviolet to long infrared.”

Built in 2015, Poland has three of the 52 LOFAR stations, which are financed by the Ministry of Science and Education.

With the aid of specially prepared superfast internet connection, the stations are connected with the LOFAR computer centre in Groningen (The Netherlands), to which data from observations is continually transmitted.

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