Astronomers have made an astonishing discovery, uncovering the brightest known object in the universe. This extraordinary finding comes in the form of a recently-discovered quasar, which is powered by a supermassive black hole at its center. Located a staggering 12 billion light-years away from Earth, this quasar is so incredibly bright that it is estimated to be 500 trillion times brighter than our sun. To put that into perspective, it devours the equivalent of one sun every single day.
What makes this discovery even more remarkable is the fact that this quasar had remained undetected until now. Christopher Onken, an astronomer at Australian National University, expressed his surprise, stating, “It was hiding in plain sight.” Onken and his team of Australian astronomers published their findings in the journal Nature Astronomy, shedding light on this previously unknown cosmic beacon.
The supermassive black hole powering this quasar, known as J0529-4351, is not the oldest in the universe but comes close. It is nearly as old as the universe itself, which is estimated to be 13.7 billion years old. In terms of size, it is approximately 17 billion times larger than our sun. The European Southern Observatory initially discovered this object in 1980 but misclassified it as a star. It wasn’t until last year that it was correctly identified as a quasar.
Astronomers have long been fascinated by black holes and their surrounding environments. In the case of this record-breaking quasar, they envision a chaotic and violent place. The accretion disc surrounding the black hole emits intense radiation as it awaits its inevitable consumption by the black hole. Rachel Webster, an astrophysicist at the University of Melbourne and co-author of the study, describes this environment as an “adolescent universe” where matter moves chaotically and feeds hungry black holes. In contrast, she explains that in the present universe, stars move orderly at safe distances and rarely plunge into black holes.
Christian Wolf, the lead astronomer of the study, likens this quasar to a “gigantic and magnetic storm cell.” He envisions a place plagued by lightning, with temperatures exceeding 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The winds in this chaotic environment blow so fast that they could circumnavigate the Earth in just one second. These observations provide a glimpse into the extreme conditions surrounding this supermassive black hole.
While this discovery is groundbreaking, there is still much to learn about this quasar and its black hole. Further observations are needed to understand its growth rate and unravel more mysteries surrounding this cosmic phenomenon. As astronomers continue to explore the vast reaches of the universe, they are constantly uncovering new wonders that challenge our understanding of the cosmos.
In conclusion, the discovery of the brightest known quasar powered by a giant black hole has captivated astronomers worldwide. This record-breaking cosmic beacon, located billions of light-years away from Earth, has shed light on the violent and chaotic nature of black holes. With its extraordinary brightness and immense size, this quasar has defied expectations and remained hidden until now. As scientists delve deeper into the mysteries of the universe, they continue to uncover awe-inspiring phenomena that push the boundaries of our knowledge.
