Astronomy Without A Telescope – Cosmic Magnetic Fields

Astronomy Without A Telescope – Cosmic Magnetic Fields

by STEVE NERLICH on APRIL 30, 2011

Magnetic field data from the Whirlpool Galaxy, M51. Credit: MPIfR Bonn.

The mention of cosmic-scale magnetic fields is still likely to met with an uncomfortable silence in some astronomical circles – and after a bit of foot-shuffling and throat-clearing, the discussion will be moved on to safer topics. But look, they’re out there. They probably do play a role in galaxy evolution, if not galaxy formation – and are certainly a feature of the interstellar medium and the intergalactic medium.

It is expected that the next generation of radio telescopes, such as LOFAR (Low Frequency Array) and the SKA (Square Kilometre Array), will make it possible to map these fields in unprecedented detail – so even if it turns out that cosmic magnetic fields only play a trivial role in large-scale cosmology – it’s at least worth having a look.