Astronomers have recently discovered the brightest celestial body in our universe. Though our universe has no real given name, it is still just that; our universe. It has a vast, and expanding nature.
There isn’t a limit for us to discover yet, whether that is a comfort or grievance is subjective. However, one of the brightest shining bodies was found within it, A quasar.
What Causes This Light?
By scientific definition, a quasar is the brilliant core of an active universe. These phenomena are also referred to as “active galactic nuclei” otherwise known as AGNs. They are usually very ancient universes and powered by supermassive black holes.
These black holes eat up all matter that is within their reach. However, due to all of this debris falling into the black hole at such a high rate, it creates a spiral or disk of debris.
The debris being swept inside the black hole takes on the form of clouds. These ‘clouds’ spin around, with the inner spirals closer to the center of the black hole moving faster than those farther out.
This is a similarly observed motion such as how planets closer to our Sun move faster than those that are further out of the solar system.
Moreover, the force and speed at which the clouds move cause collisions between them. The high speeds range from only 10% of the speed of light up to 80% of the speed of light.
The friction of these gas clouds’ extreme speed creates heat. This friction-generated heat is what makes the brilliant, bright light of the quasars. This particular quasar is said to eat about a sun a day.
Furthermore, some of the extra light from the debris clouds gets funneled out. This creates a jet beam of light that shoots out from the center of the quasar.
How are Quasars Formed?
Quasars are essentially just black holes, but instead of being a typical one, they’re supermassive black holes.
A black hole is an invisible area in space where gravity is so dense and imposing that anything unfortunate enough to get sucked in, even light is compressed.
Astronomers speculate that in the early development of the universe, quasars could’ve formed from the debris within the cosmic web. Another theory that scientists have come up with is that gravitational forces from colliding galaxies can also produce quasars.
Apart from this, the brightest ever seen and recorded quasar is named 3C 273. It is reported to be so bright that not just astronomers, but even an amateur with a rudimentary 8-inch telescope can pick it up. This particular quasar resides within the Virgo constellation.
The nearest Quasar to our galaxy is 3C 272. Through a study conducted by the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, it was found just how bright this particular quasar was. They discovered that 3C 272 has a luminosity of 2.5 x 1040 watts. This places the quasar at around 25 trillion times brighter than Earth’s sun.
Some quasars are even known to be from 10 up to 100,000 times brighter than the entirety of the Milky Way galaxy.
Astronomers have theorized that our galaxy, the Milky Way probably wasn’t ever a quasar, but a less bright active
Quasar J0529-4351
This particular quasar has truly set the residence for others to come, with its massive size and stunning glow. J0529-4351 was first discovered in the ’80s when astronomers used the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) telescope during the Schimt Sky Survey.
However, it wasn’t until recently that it was identified as a quasar. Astronomers had previously believed it to be a star.
Once astronomers made this discovery, the ESO used a very powerful telescope in its inventory to further check out the celestial body. They had discovered that the quasar was so far away that its light had taken more than 12 billion years to reach the Earth.
J0529-4351 is powered by a black hole that is about 17 times the mass of Earth’s own sun. It is also reported to eat an equivalent of about one sun per day. It is also said to be about 500 times brighter than the Earth’s sun.
Written By AriAnna Rathers
Sources:
FOX News- Fastest-growing black hole gobbles up 1 sun a day to feed brightest object in universe
The Guardian- Astronomers discover universe’s brightest object – a quasar powered by a black hole that eats a sun a day
CNN- Brightest known object in the universe was hiding in plain sight for decades, researchers say
Space- Quasars: Everything you need to know about the brightest objects in the universe
Featured Image by fdecomite’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
First Inset Image by Preston Dyches’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
