List of largest radio galaxies

This is a list of the largest radio galaxies currently discovered arranged by size. This list will include radio galaxies over 10 million light years across, equivalent to approximately 3 megaparsecs.

Radio galaxies with radio lobes (also known as radio emissions) that extend further than 2.3 million light years or 0.7 megaparsecs in length are classified as giant radio galaxies, also referred as GRGs.[1] Giant radio galaxies that contain quasars in their galactic centers are commonly called giant radio quasars, also known as GRQs.[2]

Overview

A radio galaxy is a type of galaxy with vast areas of radio emissions stretching far beyond the apparent structure. The powerful radio lobes are generated by the jets from the active galactic nucleus. The very luminous galactic center known as the active galactic nucleus (AGN) is usually powered by a supermassive black hole.[3]

List

Below is the list of the largest radio galaxies known, with diameters of over 9.7 million light years or 3 megaparsecs. The radio lobes are usually measured using the total angular diameter and the distance of the host galaxy.

Radio galaxy name Diameter of radio lobes in light-years Diameter of radio lobes in megaparsecs Notes
TXS 0033+252 26,042,000[4] 7.985 Largest radio galaxy discovered so far.
Porphyrion 22,831,000[5] 7 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 6.16 megaparsecs.[6]
J0838+5327 21,461,000[6] 6.58
ILT J132739.02+350643.0 20,389,000[4] 6.251
J0103+2305 19,243,000[6] 5.9
J0947-1338 18,917,000[7] 5.8
ILT J092754.27+351037.1 18,880,000[4] 5.789
ILT J083456.98+541742.4 18,447,000[4] 5.656
J0901+4420 17,612,000[6] 5.4
J1108+2916 16,960,000[6] 5.2
SDSS J081956.41+323537.6 16,539,000[1] 5.071 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 4.66 megaparsecs.[6]
Alcyoneus 16,275,000[8] 4.99 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 4.74 megaparsecs.[6]
J2238+3305 16,014,000[6] 4.91
J1420-0545 15,871,000[9] 4.866 An article from 2008 suggests a diameter of 4.69 megaparsecs.[10]
SDSS J042220.84+151059.8 15,763,000[9] 4.833
J0843+0208 15,753,000[6] 4.83
ILT J141134.19+630011.6 15,691,000[4] 4.811
SDSS J142910.70+311245.0 15,669,000[1] 4.804
J0846+3747 15,656,000[6] 4.8
J1120+3118 15,362,000[6] 4.71
SDSS J131823.42+262622.8 15,075,000[1] 4.622 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 4.37 megaparsecs.[6]
J2035-6434 15,003,000[6] 4.6
3C 236 14,961,000[9] 4.587
J0157-6000 14,905,000[6] 4.57
SDSS J152634.77+262003.2 14,863,000[1] 4.557 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 4.4 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J121815.66+382407.5 14,644,000[1] 4.49 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 4.8 megaparsecs.[6]
J1052+5456C 14,514,000[11] 4.45
J1200+6523 14,481,000[6] 4.44
J0226+5927 14,318,000[6] 4.39
J1227+1437 14,286,000[6] 4.38
NVSS 2146+82 14,286,000[12] 4.38
J1450+6723 14,220,000[6] 4.36
J1006+3454 14,123,000[6] 4.33
QSO J0931+3204 14,106,000[9] 4.325 An article from 2016 suggests a diameter of 4.447 megaparsecs.[13]
J0156-0714 14,025,000[6] 4.3
SDSS J175735.88+405154.2 13,986,000[1] 4.288 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 4.48 megaparsecs.[6]
J1007+6847 13,927,000[6] 4.27
J0320-5330 13,764,000[6] 4.22
ILT J173106.33+292302.3 13,615,000[4] 4.175
SDSS J161622.52+111135.7 13,545,000[1] 4.153
J0228-0207 13,470,000[6] 4.13
J1841+4005 13,438,000[6] 4.12
J1303+5404 13,372,000[6] 4.1
ILT J163813.18+320505.8 13,356,000[4] 4.095
SDSS J154709.22+353846.1 13,291,000[1] 4.075
J1210+4808 13,275,000[6] 4.07
SDSS J013406.32+301537.2 13,255,000[1] 4.064 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.1 megaparsecs.[6]
ILT J112515.39+640028.5 13,108,000[4] 4.019
SDSS J082747.88+662813.6 13,105,000[1] 4.018 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.74 megaparsecs.[6]
J0422+1512 12,981,000[14] 3.98
J0839+0213 12,948,000[6] 3.97
J2321-1942 12,753,000[6] 3.91
J1050+5706 12,753,000[6] 3.91
SDSS J012440.54+194003.9 12,707,000[1] 3.896 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.3 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J155339.76+282813.1 12,639,000[1] 3.875
2MASX J18212693+2639350 12,586,000[1] 3.859 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.7 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J162656.58+543421.3 12,528,000[1] 3.841 An article from 2024 suggests a diameter of 3.55 megaparsecs.[11]
J1245+4604 12,524,000[6] 3.84
QSO J1410+2955 12,453,000[9] 3.818
J0153-2713 12,394,000[6] 3.8
J1118+6433 12,394,000[6] 3.8
J0352-2451 12,361,000[6] 3.79
AKSAP J0107-2347 12,361,000[15] 3.79 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.68 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J220605.67+275100.3 12,332,000[1] 3.781 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.92 megaparsecs.[6]
J1438+3355 12,329,000[11] 3.78 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.6 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J023544.96+310447.5 12,312,000[1] 3.775 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.52 megaparsecs.[6]
J1542+3736 12,296,000[6] 3.77
NVSS J090535+670408 12,290,000[1] 3.768
J1202+0211 12,263,000[6] 3.76
J1101-1151 12,263,000[6] 3.76
ILT J153532.25+435152.0 12,231,000[4] 3.75
J1320+6022 12,198,000[6] 3.74
J0509+0420 12,198,000[6] 3.74
J2145+819 12,195,000[16] 3.739
GRG J200843+004918 12,100,000[17] 3.71
J1637+3949 12,068,000[6] 3.7
J1558-2138 12,068,000[6] 3.7
ILT J082408.14+381850.9 12,066,000[4] 3.699
J1546+6838 12,003,000[6] 3.68
ILT J224103.12+273246.5 11,984,000[4] 3.674
J1637+3204 11,937,000[6] 3.66
J1113+2100 11,937,000[6] 3.66
SDSS J180117.72+510722.4 11,931,000[1] 3.658
J1637+1936 11,872,000[6] 3.64
ILT J134212.48+411138.0 11,867,000[4] 3.638
ILT J083017.89+595011.6 11,846,000[4] 3.632
SDSS J123900.69+360924.5 11,797,000[1] 3.617 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.43 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J102430.93+381842.8 11,797,000[1] 3.617 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.37 megaparsecs.[6]
J1547+5147 11,774,000[6] 3.61
ILT J092223.32+450004.7 11,763,000[4] 3.606
SDSS J172051.08+294256.8 11,624,000[1] 3.564
SDSS J090534.54+563052.0 11,592,000[1] 3.554 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.05 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J133105.80+293435.7 11,582,000[1] 3.551 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.33 megaparsecs.[6]
ILT J105716.30+535638.1 11,533,000[4] 3.536
SDSS J223649.76+251242.5 11,523,000[1] 3.533 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.12 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J230125.38+240148.2 11,504,000[1] 3.527 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.09 megaparsecs.[6]
J0156-6529 11,415,000[6] 3.5
J0905+5526 11,383,000[6] 3.49
J0047-6206 11,383,000[6] 3.49
AKSAP J0059-2352 11,383,000[15] 3.49 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.44 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J004848.01+021003.1 11,383,000[1] 3.49 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.41 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J220239.13+070656.7 11,360,000[1] 3.483
GRG J235531+025607 11,350,000[17] 3.48
SDSS J165113.78+320943.4 11,344,000[1] 3.478 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.29 megaparsecs.[6]
NVSS J064804+704939 11,318,000[1] 3.47
SDSS J004459.89+284748.5 11,298,000[1] 3.464 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.3 megaparsecs.[6]
J1605+4434 11,285,000[6] 3.46
J2223+1831 11,252,000[6] 3.45
J0648+7049 11,220,000[6] 3.44
GRG J123501.52+531755.09 11,220,000[18] 3.44
J0054-4952 11,155,000[19] 3.42
ILT J102928.87+390233.5 11,136,000[4] 3.414
J1423+3529 11,122,000[11] 3.41 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.34 megaparsecs.[6]
J0923+0742 11,089,000[6] 3.4
J1150+4618 11,057,000[6] 3.39
J0742-6407 11,057,000[6] 3.39
LEDA 2695924 11,053,000[1] 3.389
J2216-5737 10,991,000[6] 3.37
SDSSCGB 17961.2 10,969,000[9] 3.363
ILT J085551.47+541539.7 10,957,000[4] 3.359
J1036+3732 10,926,000[6] 3.35
SDSS J112912.14+273313.9 10,881,000[1] 3.336
SDSS J163659.07+541725.4 10,864,000[1] 3.331 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.1 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J092826.93+230448.0 10,855,000[1] 3.328 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.62 megaparsecs.[6]
J0044-3804 10,828,000[6] 3.32
J2347-6644 10,828,000[6] 3.32
J2108-3932 10,828,000[6] 3.32
SDSS J001152.65+310024.3 10,825,000[1] 3.319 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.02 megaparsecs.[6]
J1727+4615 10,796,000[6] 3.31
J0939+0540 10,796,000[6] 3.31
J1452-0230 10,763,000[6] 3.3
J2048-0520 10,763,000[6] 3.3
J0911+5440 10,763,000[6] 3.3
SDSS J125804.46+273046.0 10,740,000[1] 3.293
J1902-5605 10,731,000[6] 3.29
NVSS J121012+440331 10,704,000[1] 3.282
J0955-0744 10,698,000[6] 3.28
SDSS J084127.02+554627.1 10,691,000[1] 3.278 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.1 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J143011.92+410404.2 10,669,000[1] 3.271 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.06 megaparsecs.[6]
J0319-5340 10,665,000[6] 3.27
ILT J084606.48+611634.3 10,654,000[4] 3.267
J1452-2638 10,633,000[6] 3.26
J1006+4834 10,600,000[6] 3.25
J1213-1534 10,600,000[6] 3.25
J1234+5318 10,600,000[19] 3.25
SDSS J135119.31+340844.1 10,577,000[1] 3.243
SDSS J134436.33+291239.6 10,571,000[1] 3.241 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.04 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J112638.34+302541.9 10,551,000[1] 3.235 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.1 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J012342.20+293633.1 10,489,000[1] 3.216 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.15 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J223224.15+285753.3 10,486,000[1] 3.215 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.14 megaparsecs.[6]
ILT J143212.04+604558.8 10,476,000[4] 3.212
J0907+6706 10,470,000[6] 3.21
SDSS J103731.47+312948.9 10,460,000[1] 3.207 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J154742.69+384119.4 10,453,000[1] 3.205
SDSS J114333.93+425800.5 10,440,000[1] 3.201
SDSS J122329.86+313116.0 10,437,000[1] 3.2
J1411+6259 10,437,000[6] 3.2
J0105-0808 10,437,000[6] 3.2
J1220+3837 10,437,000[6] 3.2
J0153+5946 10,437,000[6] 3.2
J1008-2652 10,437,000[6] 3.2
J1400+3017 10,430,000[20] 3.198
ILT J073311.58+393815.5 10,403,000[4] 3.19
NVSS J140904+674748 10,355,000[1] 3.175
ILT J085412.34+601825.8 10,343,000[4] 3.171
J1104+6007C 10,339,000[11] 3.17
J0041+2912 10,339,000[6] 3.17
J0825+693 10,313,000[16] 3.162
J1305-3814 10,274,000[6] 3.15
SDSS J084354.54+494919.0 10,271,000[1] 3.149
J1343+3758 10,241,000[21] 3.14
J1650+3912 10,241,000[6] 3.14
J1616+4825 10,241,000[6] 3.14
SDSS J110420.29+600712.7 10,209,000[1] 3.13
J0101+5052 10,209,000[6] 3.13
J0740-6647 10,209,000[6] 3.13
SDSS J151731.75+320836.5 10,202,000[1] 3.128
SDSS J112823.80+095710.8 10,170,000[1] 3.118
SDSS J163820.93+441444.2 10,150,000[1] 3.112
J1812+6731 10,143,000[6] 3.11
ILT J105755.80+470446.4 10,113,000[4] 3.101
SDSS J115401.37+593454.2 10,111,000[1] 3.1
J0230-5230 10,111,000[6] 3.1
J1116-4234 10,111,000[6] 3.1
SDSS J020249.26+312959.1 10,104,000[1] 3.098
SDSS J141650.07+410150.4 10,085,000[1] 3.092 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.05 megaparsecs.[6]
SDSS J072238.85+424236.6 10,078,000[1] 3.09 An article from 2025 suggests a diameter of 3.19 megaparsecs.[6]
J1429+3230C 10,078,000[11] 3.09
FIRST J152157.7+572429 10,068,000[1] 3.087
SDSS J145004.45+571559.5 10,049,000[1] 3.081
J0039-1928 10,046,000[6] 3.08
J0019-0408 10,046,000[6] 3.08
SDSS J111709.38+673324.5 10,016,000[1] 3.071
J1102+1345 10,013,000[6] 3.07
ILT J134853.94+273705.5 9,995,000[4] 3.065
J2129-5340 9,980,000[6] 3.06
J0030-0312 9,980,000[6] 3.06
J1623-6919 9,980,000[6] 3.06
J1530+5243 9,980,000[6] 3.06
J0331-7713 9,980,000[6] 3.06
J0831+6711 9,915,000[6] 3.04
ILT J090337.96+344216.6 9,885,000[4] 3.031
SDSS J225412.25+254056.1 9,876,000[1] 3.028
SDSS J014009.73+224132.1 9,876,000[1] 3.028
ILT J152000.07+303127.2 9,873,000[4] 3.027
[DRB2020] 167 9,869,000[9] 3.026
J0006+2402 9,850,000[6] 3.02
J0648+3917 9,817,000[6] 3.01
J1229+5826 9,785,000[6] 3
J1301-0333 9,785,000[6] 3
J1511+4605 9,785,000[6] 3
NGC 6251 9,785,000[22] 3 An article from 2020 suggests a diameter of 1.969 megaparsecs.[9]

Listed below are superlative giant radio galaxies under 9.7 million light years or 3 megaparsecs in diameter.

Radio galaxy name Size of radio lobes in light years Size of radio lobes in megaparsecs Notes
NGC 6185 8,297,000[1] 2.544 Largest spiral-hosted radio galaxy.
Z 49-138 8,232,000[1] 2.524 Largest lenticular-hosted radio galaxy.
DA 240 4,566,000[23] 1.4 One of the first discovered giant radio galaxies.
ILT J141446.18+544658.8 4,312,000[24] 1.322 Most massive giant radio galaxy, stellar mass is 1.2 trillion M☉.
ILT J160819.77+601708.0 4,012,000[24] 1.23 Least massive giant radio galaxy, stellar mass is 33,000 M☉.
NGC 2300 3,496,000[1] 1.072 Closest giant radio galaxy, redshift is z = 0.00635.
ILT J120019.48+361924.1 2,430,000[24] 0.745 Most distant giant radio galaxy, redshift is z = 4.369

See also

References

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