Astrophysicist from Manipur discovers protocluster of galaxies, names it Loktak
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 26 2026: In a remarkable achievement in the field of space research, Dr Ronaldo Laishram, an astrophysicist from Manipur has discovered a new protocluster of galaxies and he has named it Loktak Protocluster.

Dr Ronaldo Laishram is currently working as an astrophysicist and post-doctoral researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) .

Dr Ronaldo hails from Khangabok Awang Leikai, Thoubal district.

Dr Ronaldo Laishram's landmark discovery has been already published in the Astrophysical Journal Letter, a leading journal in the field of Astronomy.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, Dr Ronaldo said that he discovered the new protocluster of galaxies in the course of his research which started in October 2025 .

Astrophysicist from Manipur discovers protocluster of galaxies, names it Loktak

He said that he was researching how galaxies were formed, their properties, shapes and sizes.

He said that the Loktak Protocluster was formed 12.60 billion years ago.

In another word, the Loktak Protocluster has been there since 1.20 million years after the Big Bang, it said.

As revealed from the study of Loktak Proto-cluster, properties, shapes and sizes of galaxies are determined by their environment and surroundings.

Galaxies which exist in close proximity tend to expand in size.

On naming the new protocluster, the young astrophysicist said that he had the privilege to name the protocluster and he chose Loktak to highlight before the whole world that there is a small State in the North Eastern corner of India, rich in culture and tradition.

Moreover, the appearance of the protocluster is similar to the Loktak Lake, Dr Ronaldo said.

After the discovery of Loktak Protocluster was published in the Astro-physical Journal Letter, a lot of emails were received from different parts of the world enquiring about Manipur and Loktak.

"This was exactly what I wanted", he said.

Dr Ronaldo said that the Loktak Protocluster was discovered with the help of NAOJ's powerfill telescope known as Subaru Telescope, installed in the USA's Hawaii Islands.

Further, the new protocluster was studied with James Webb Space Technology, one of the biggest and most powerfill infrared space observatories in the world, he said.

Manipur Astronomical Society coordinator Leishangthem Devjit said that the society was formed by students and researchers of Astrophysics and Dr Ronaldo Laishram is its chief coordinator.

Devjit said that Dr Ronaldo Laishram's achievement and discovery will be a big inspiration to many young Manipur students who are studying Astrophysics.