Science

Astronomers deliver the sharpest and deepest view yet of the low-frequency radio sky

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Briefings

A team led by Leiden University used the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) to create the sharpest and most sensitive radio image of the sky at low frequencies, revealing nearly 63,000 radio sources including active galactic nuclei and star-forming galaxies. The image covers a sky patch approximately 25 times the area of the full moon and has been accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. The findings are currently available as an arXiv preprint.

Key points

• The Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) produced the sharpest and most sensitive radio image of the sky at low frequencies.
• The image reveals nearly 63,000 radio sources across a sky patch 25 times the area of the full moon.

Context

An international team led by Leiden University utilized the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) to achieve unprecedented sensitivity in radio astronomy. The findings are significant for mapping the low-frequency sky, which is crucial for understanding cosmic structures like active galactic nuclei and star-forming galaxies.

Limitations

The image covers a specific sky patch 25 times the area of the full moon. The data is from a single snapshot and is currently available as an arXiv preprint, meaning it may not yet be fully vetted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

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