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Ring of Mystery
Featured on March 22, 2022
An Odd Radio Circle (ORC) shows against the background of stars and galaxies in this radio image from the MeerKat observatory in South Africa. The circle spans roughly one million light-years, and is one of only five known ORCs, which have been detected only by radio telescopes. Astronomers say such objects could be remnants of a huge explosion at the center of a galaxy, jets of particles spewing from the galaxy's center, or the result of a shockwave from a vigorous bout of star formation. [© J. English (U. Manitoba)/EMU/MeerKAT/DES (CTIO)]
