Dazzling New Radio Photo Reveals Galaxy in Unprecedented Detail

A spectacular new low-frequency radio image created in Australia now offers the most detailed Southern Hemisphere view of the Milky Way ever assembled, giving astronomers a powerful new tool to study how stars are born, evolve, and die.

“This vibrant image delivers an unparalleled perspective of our galaxy,” said researcher Silvia Mantovanini, who helped build the map using years of survey data and tens of thousands of hours of supercomputing.

The new image combines major radio surveys collected with the Murchison Widefield Array, offering twice the resolution, ten times the sensitivity, and double the sky coverage of previous maps. It reveals nearly 100,000 radio sources across the Galactic Plane, from red supernova remnants to bright blue star-forming nurseries. It provides clearer clues to the behaviour of pulsars and other rare objects. Researchers say it marks the most comprehensive low-frequency radio view of the Milky Way to date, and that only the upcoming SKA-Low telescope will surpass it in sensitivity and detail.