Around twenty scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) and the Thuringian State Observatory met for a workshop in Tautenburg at the end of October 2024. The two astronomy institutes are working together to analyze data obtained when measuring the galactic plane with the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa. During the workshop in Tautenburg, the scientists discussed the current status of the data analysis. They also prepared the first scientific studies of the ongoing survey.
MeerKAT radio telescope: a new view of the galactic plane
The MeerKAT radio telescope is used, among other things, for sky surveys of the Milky Way. One of the surveys was led by South African scientists. The data has already been published (SMGPS, SARAO MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey). A complementary project, led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, has the primary goal of searching for and investigating pulsars in the Milky Way.
A mapping of the southern part of the Milky Way and the center of the Milky Way turns out to be by-product of the survey. The collaboration between the MPIfR and TLS aims to analyze the recorded data in order to learn more about objects that can be observed in the Milky Way with radio telescopes. In particular, these are regions where new stars have recently formed or are currently forming (star forming regions) and the remnants of stars that have reached the end of their evolution with an explosion (supernova remnants). In addition, outer shells that stars 'shed' during their development are also observed, as well as mysterious line-like structures that are thought to make the magnetic fields in the Milky Way visible.
Three different frequency bands provide three different “colors”
An observation of the galactic plane with the radio telescope MeerKAT and the WISE survey (Infrared light). Photo: Albert GenestThe survey is still ongoing. In total, the MeerKAT telescope will map the southern Milky Way with 3,000 hours of telescope time as part of the MMGPS (MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey). The special feature of this mapping is that three different frequency bands are used, which are like “colors” for radio telescopes. The receivers for one of the “colors” were developed at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. This multi-colored mapping of the galactic plane is unique and provides a wealth of information. At the workshop in Tautenburg, the current status of the survey and initial results were presented. The scientists also discussed the next steps in the analysis.