Cygnus A
Cygnus A, most powerful cosmic source of radio waves known, lying in the northern constellation Cygnus about 500,000,000 light-years (4.8 × 1021 km) from Earth. It has the appearance of a double galaxy. For a time it was thought to be two galaxies in collision, but the energy output is too large to be accounted for in that way. Radio energy is emitted from Cygnus A at an estimated 1045 ergs per second, more than 1011 times the rate at which energy of all kinds is emitted by the Sun. The source of the energy of Cygnus A remains undetermined.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Cygnus A
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
05 April 2010
Access Date:
February 22, 2025