Astronomers have made an astonishing discovery – the brightest known object in the universe. This remarkable find is a quasar powered by the fastest-growing black hole ever recorded. The quasar, named J0529-4351, had managed to remain hidden in plain sight until recently, surprising scientists.
Quasars are the luminous cores of ancient galaxies that exist in the far reaches of the cosmos. These dazzling phenomena are believed to be fueled by supermassive black holes, which act as the central engines of large galaxies.
The quasar J0529-4351 was observed using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope. Astronomers were astounded to find that this incredibly distant object is so far from our solar system that its light has taken over 12 billion years to reach Earth.
Further analysis revealed that the black hole powering the quasar devours the equivalent of one sun per day and has a mass approximately 17 billion times that of our sun. This awe-inspiring discovery was detailed in a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
Lead study author Christian Wolf, an associate professor at the Australian National University’s College of Science, described the rate of growth as “incredible” and emphasized the massive release of light and heat associated with it. In fact, this quasar is 500 trillion times brighter than our sun, making it the most luminous known object in the universe.
Astronomers are eager to study this quasar, along with other elusive objects, using new instruments and observatories in the future. The study of distant supermassive black holes could provide crucial insights into the early days of the universe, shedding light on how galaxies formed and evolved.
Black holes are known for their immense gravitational influence, which draws matter toward them in an energetic manner. This process generates light, resulting in the blinding radiation associated with black holes. The intense radiation is produced by the black hole’s accretion disk, a ring of material that gathers around the black hole before being consumed.
Samuel Lai, a doctoral student at the Australian National University’s Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics and coauthor of the study, compared the appearance of the accretion disk to a “gigantic and magnetic storm cell.” He described temperatures reaching 10,000 degrees Celsius (18,032 degrees Fahrenheit), lightning everywhere, and winds blowing so fast that they could circumnavigate the Earth in a second.
The discovery of this quasar provides valuable insights into the early days of the universe. Astronomers have long known that spotting an incredibly luminous quasar indicates the presence of a rapidly growing supermassive black hole. J0529-4351 sets new records in terms of luminosity and the size of its accretion disk, measuring an impressive seven light-years in diameter.
Interestingly, this quasar had actually appeared in images from the European Southern Observatory’s Schmidt Southern Sky Survey back in 1980. However, it was not recognized as a quasar at the time. Dr. Christopher Onken, a research fellow at the Australian National University’s Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics and coauthor of the study, expressed surprise that such an impressive object had remained unknown until now.
Searching for quasars is a challenging task, as it often involves analyzing large sky surveys. These surveys generate massive datasets that must be processed using machine-learning models. However, these models can only identify quasar candidates that resemble known objects, as they are trained on existing data. This limitation can result in misidentifications, with newly discovered quasars being classified as bright nearby stars.
This is precisely what happened with J0529-4351. An automated program analyzing data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia satellite initially categorized the object as a star in June 2022. It was only in 2023, when astronomers observed the object using the 2.3-meter telescope at the Australian National University’s Siding Spring Observatory, that they realized it was a quasar. Further observations using the Very Large Telescope in Chile’s Atacama Desert confirmed details about the black hole, including its massive size.
Christian Wolf, the lead study author, expressed his personal satisfaction with the discovery, likening it to a treasure hunt. He emphasized the joy of feeling like a child again and bringing all his knowledge and experience to the table.
The discovery of this incredibly bright quasar powered by the fastest-growing black hole is a testament to the wonders of the universe. It highlights the importance of continued exploration and the use of advanced instruments and observatories to unravel the mysteries of our cosmic origins. As astronomers delve deeper into the study of distant supermassive black holes, we can expect even more astonishing discoveries that will reshape our understanding of the universe.
