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Universe Today
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Image Credit: Universe Today
Hubble Gets its Best Look At the First Quasar
- Hubble telescope observations of the first quasar, 3C 273, reveal a new core jet, a core blob, and smaller blobs, as well as filamentary structures similar to those observed in other galaxies.
- Astronomers blocked the quasar's light to observe the filaments, lobe, and an L-shaped structure, probably the result of a supermassive black hole devouring small galaxies.
- The quasar is 2.5 billion light-years away and is the most distant object visible in a backyard telescope.
- The observations also found a Core Component (CC), in addition to the previously identified Inner Core (IC) and Outer Core (OC).
- Quasars are powered by supermassive black holes at the center of large galaxies and are thousands of times more luminous than the Milky Way.
- Observations of 3C 273 were first linked to a visual object by Maarten Schmidt in 1963, revealing the true nature of quasars.
- The research, published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, calls for additional observations of 3C 273 and better telescopes with improved performance in high-energy detection for further study.
- More observations of 3C 273 with the James Webb Space Telescope in infrared light may provide additional insight in the future.
- The Hubble's observations have bridged the gap between small-scale radio interferometry and large-scale optical imaging observations of quasars.
- Hubble's efforts allow for the possibility of a more complete understanding of quasar host morphology and galactic interactions in the future.
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