Astronomers deliver the sharpest and deepest view yet of the low-frequency radio sky
Using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), an international team led by Leiden University has produced the sharpest and most sensitive radio image of the sky ever made at low radio frequencies. The image reveals almost 63,000 radio sources, such as active galactic nuclei and star-forming galaxies, across a patch of sky about 25 times the area of the full moon. The results have been accepted for…
An international team of astronomers, led by Leiden University, has released the sharpest and most comprehensive radio image of the sky at low frequencies. Utilizing the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), the researchers observed a 25 times larger area of the northern sky, equivalent to about 8 billion pixels, compared to the previous most sensitive image.
The image contains nearly 63,000 radio sources, including active galactic nuclei and star-forming galaxies. The enhanced resolution allows for easier identification of different components, such as powerful radio jets from black holes and star formation, which were previously obscured in low-resolution images. The data, collected over 200 hours and amounting to 400 terabytes, has been made publicly available for further analysis by the scientific community.
This breakthrough in low-frequency radio astronomy demonstrates the potential of the upcoming LOFAR2.0 upgrade, which will enable even more sensitive and wider images at high resolutions, staying competitive with the upcoming Square Kilometre Array.
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