NEWS

Alcyoneus Galaxy was discovered using the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) telescope and the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) network

ALCYONEUS GALAXY

• Currently is the largest galaxy discovered
• Largest known structure created by a single galaxy
• A supermassive black hole weighing 400200 million solar masses has also been found in the host galaxy
• Named Alcyoneus who was one of Heracles’ opponents according to Greek mythology

LOFAR

• Stands for Low-Frequency Array
• Large radio telescope network
• Located in the Netherlands
• Completed in the year 2012 by ASTRON, the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, along with international partners

WIDE-FIELD INFRARED SURVEY EXPLORER (WISE)

• NASA Explorer program’s infrared astronomy satellite telescope
• Launched in the year 2009