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Treble Clef: Unusual X-ray Hot Radio Source

October 19, 2026

Here’s to you, and all the wonder still ahead.

Treble Clef: Unusual X-ray Hot Radio Source

APOD published October 19, 2026

X-ray: NASA/CXC/INAF-IRA/A. Botteon et al.; Infrared: UKIDSS-GPS; Radio: ASTRONLOFAR; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk

apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap261019.html

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Selected image source ↗ APOD published October 19, 2026. Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/INAF-IRA/A. Botteon et al.; Infrared: UKIDSS-GPS; Radio: ASTRONLOFAR; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.

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Treble Clef: Unusual X-ray Hot Radio Source

Original APOD · October 19, 2026 ↗

Read the original APOD for the astronomer’s explanation and full image credits. Its text is preserved in the archive as published.

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Explanation : What is Treble Clef? This unusual radio structure extends over 2 million light-years and resembles a common musical symbol -- but has its visible light hidden by our own Milky Way Galaxy. Examined in 2004, the nature of VLSS J0318.9+5755, dubbed Treble Clef, remained unknown. Recent observations by the Chandra X-ray Observatory and eROSITA, however, have led to the hypothesis that the Treble Clef central cloud of charged particles was originally expelled by a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy. After the radio emission from those particles faded, they may have been reinvigorated by a shock wave from the collision of two clusters of galaxies. The featured composite image shows radio emission in red, while recently discovered X-rays are shown in blue. Unusual objects like Treble Clef give humanity unexpected clues about how whole clusters of galaxies interact as well as the general evolution of our universe.

Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/INAF-IRA/A. Botteon et al.; Infrared: UKIDSS-GPS; Radio: ASTRONLOFAR; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/N. Wolk

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