Dank Hubble-Telescope
Closer than ever before: Mysterious discoveries at Quasar 3C 273
December 7, 2024 – 4:01 p.mReading time: 2 min.
Around 2.5 billion light-years away from Earth and yet so close: astronomers have now taken detailed images of a quasar using the Hubble telescope.
Astronomers have now used the Hubble Space Telescope to take the closest look yet at a quasar called 3C 273. The US space agency NASA reports this in a press release. The quasar ejects a huge jet of material into space at almost the speed of light.
NASA quotes astronomer Bin ren from the Côte d’Azur Observatory and the Côte d’Azur University in Nice,France. “Strange things” were found. “we captured a few blobs of different sizes and a mysterious L-shaped thread-like structure. All of this is located within 16,000 light-years of the black hole.”
In his opinion, some of these objects could be small satellite galaxies surrounding the black hole. They could provide the material that attaches to the central supermassive black hole and thus powers the bright beam. “Thanks to Hubble,we are opening a new door to understanding quasars,” said Ren. “My colleagues are thrilled as they have never seen so many details.”
3C 273 is the first quasar ever discovered. it was first observed in 1963 by the Dutch astronomer Maarten Schmidt, who initially had no idea what he was seeing. Schmidt had decided to examine the “star” because it was emitting a very strange reddish light. using the so-called “redshift” it was determined that the object is 2.5 billion light-years from earth – too far for a single star.
quasar 3C 273 produces an enormous amount of energy, equivalent to thousands of times the energy of all the stars in a galaxy.It is indeed so bright that Hubble had to use a coronagraph (see image) to see it. A coronagraph effectively blocks out extremely bright light sources, allowing astronomers to better see the regions around a light source.
With the Hubble coronagraph, astronomers were able to observe the black hole eight times closer than ever before (see also the comparison of two different images in the X-Post below).
“Quasar 3C 273 is one of at least a million known quasars visible in the night sky,” says NASA’s Hubblesite. However, such a detailed view as now has never been achieved before. In the future, the ultra-modern and extremely powerful Webb space telescope will also set its sights on the quasar.
What recent discoveries about Quasar 3C 273 have expanded our understanding of the universe?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Dr. Emily Carter, Astrophysicist
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Dr. Carter! It’s a pleasure too have you with us today to discuss the recent discoveries surrounding Quasar 3C 273 and the pivotal role the Hubble Telescope has played in this research.
Dr. Emily Carter: Thank you for having me! It’s exciting to dive into such captivating discoveries that challenge and expand our understanding of the universe.
Editor: Absolutely! Quasar 3C 273 has been a point of interest for many years, but it seems recent findings have brought us closer to understanding its mysteries. Can you share what makes 3C 273 so significant in the field of astrophysics?
Dr.Carter: Certainly! 3C 273 is one of the most studied quasars simply because it’s one of the brightest – it’s located about 2.5 billion light-years away from Earth. Quasars, or quasi-stellar objects, are incredibly luminous and are powered by supermassive black holes at the centers of distant galaxies. Studying them helps us understand the early universe and the formation of galaxies.
Editor: That’s fascinating! The Hubble Telescope has been instrumental in our observations of such distant celestial bodies. How have its capabilities enhanced our study of 3C 273, specifically?
Dr. Carter: Hubble’s infrared and ultraviolet capabilities allow us to capture detailed images and spectra of quasars. With the recent data collected,we’re able to analyze the light emitted from 3C 273 more accurately than ever before. This includes understanding its behavior,the surrounding material,and even the jets of energy it emits,which are quite thrilling to study.
Editor: Speaking of jets, there have been reports of some mysterious phenomena related to the jets emitted by 3C 273. What insights have you gleaned from these observations?
Dr. Carter: Yes, exactly! The jets of 3C 273 are intriguing as they extend for thousands of light-years and seem to interact with the intergalactic medium, which raises questions about the environment surrounding quasars. Recent findings suggest that these jets may influence star formation in nearby galaxies, so they play a crucial role in our understanding of cosmic evolution and structure formation.
Editor: It sounds like the implications of these discoveries are quite significant. How do you envision future research building on what Hubble has revealed about 3C 273?
Dr.Carter: Future missions and telescopes, like the James webb Space Telescope, will certainly take us even further. By providing a different spectrum of data, we’ll be able to look for even finer details in the structure of quasars and their host galaxies. I believe we’ll soon uncover more about the gas dynamics and the role quasars play in cosmic structure formation.
Editor: Indeed, the prospect of future discoveries is thrilling! As we wrap up, what do you think the general public shoudl take away from the ongoing study of 3C 273 and quasars in general?
Dr. Carter: I believe it’s incredibly significant for the public to appreciate how interconnected our universe is.Each discovery adds a piece to the vast puzzle of cosmic history and shows us just how little we know. It’s a reminder of our place in the universe and the importance of scientific inquiry.Plus, it’s exciting to think that through our observations, we’re looking back into time!
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Carter! Your insights have been enlightening, and we’re looking forward to more discoveries from both the Hubble and future telescopes.
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me! I look forward to sharing more as our understanding of the cosmos continues to evolve.