Astronomers have made an astonishing discovery, identifying what could be the brightest and most luminous object in the universe. This extraordinary find is a quasar that emits light 500 trillion times more intense than our sun. Quasars are whirlpools of fast-moving, ultra-hot gas created by massive black holes. What makes this quasar even more remarkable is that it is powered by the fastest-growing black hole known to humans, devouring the equivalent of one sun per day.
The quasar, named J0529-4351, was hiding in plain sight for several decades before astronomers finally uncovered its true nature. Initially classified as a star not too far from Earth, its brightness was so overwhelming that its true identity was overlooked. However, upon closer examination, it became evident that this object was something truly extraordinary.
This particular quasar is located so far away that its light took over 12 billion years to reach us. It has a mass 17 billion times that of the sun, making it an incredibly massive and powerful entity in the universe. Christian Wolf, a professor at Australian National University and lead author of the study published in Nature Astronomy, compared finding a quasar to discovering a gemstone amidst a pile of dirt. These rare objects provide valuable insights into the development of galaxies and the expansion of the universe.
The name “quasar” is derived from their star-like properties and stands for quasi-stellar radio source. The light emitted by this quasar is 20,000 times more intense than that of our Milky Way galaxy. If placed at the center of our galaxy, it would never turn night on Earth again, creating a perpetual twilight. Wolf describes the quasar as a “giant hurricane with the black hole in the eye of the storm” or “the biggest gates to hell we have found anywhere in the universe.” Its accretion disc, where matter is pulled towards the black hole, is a staggering 7 light years across. This immense size suggests scorching temperatures, powerful magnetic fields, and wind speeds reaching thousands of miles per second. It is a place of cosmic lightning bolts and unimaginable violence.
Despite its awe-inspiring power, Wolf reassures us that this massive black hole is far away and its growth has long ceased. The light we see from it has traveled over 12 billion years to reach us, indicating that the black hole’s growth has come to a halt. While it may be the most violent place known in the universe, it poses no immediate threat to us.
For Wolf, the discovery of this quasar is like finding a treasure, fueling him with a sense of wonder and amazement. It reminds us of the extreme and extraordinary phenomena that exist in our vast universe. As astronomers continue their search for quasars, they hope to gain further understanding of the expansion of the universe and the role these objects play in shaping galaxies.
The discovery of this incredibly bright and luminous quasar opens up new avenues for exploration and deepens our understanding of the universe’s wonders. It serves as a reminder that there is still so much left to uncover and marvel at in the vast expanse of space.
