Astronomers have achieved a groundbreaking feat with NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, gaining the closest-ever view of a quasar’s core, particularly focusing on the enigmatic 3C 273. This quasar, positioned 2.5 billion light-years away, opens a window into understanding the intense energy output powered by material consumed by a supermassive black hole.
Using the capabilities of Hubble, astronomers have uncovered significant details within the quasar’s vicinity. Bin Ren from the Côte d’Azur Observatory noted the peculiar formations, including varying sizes of blobs and a remarkable L-shaped filamentary structure, all situated within 16,000 light-years of the central black hole. The uniqueness of these objects, potentially small galaxies drawn into the black hole, has intrigued researchers who have never before observed such intricate details.
Quasars, known as quasi-stellar objects, appear as point sources of light. The quasar 3C 273, identified by Maarten Schmidt in 1963, was recognized for its extraordinary luminosity, over ten times that of the brightest giant elliptical galaxies. This observation led to new questions in cosmology, particularly concerning the source of such vast energy production.
Hubble’s coronagraph technology has been pivotal in this research, effectively blocking out the quasar’s intense glare, akin to viewing a powerful headlight while spotting a minute detail nearby. This tool allowed scientists to examine intricate formations near the black hole, revealing interactions likely caused by galactic mergers and debris accretion.
Further investigations using the Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) revealed a 300,000-light-year jet traveling at nearly the speed of light, providing a rare glimpse into the quasar’s dynamics. Comparisons of recent data with 22-year-old archival images revealed that parts of this jet accelerate as they move away from the black hole.
The detailed observations afforded by Hubble have bridged a gap between radio and optical examinations, offering a clearer picture of quasar morphology and galactic interactions. Bin Ren suggests that future research with the James Webb Space Telescope, focusing on infrared light, could further unravel the mysteries surrounding quasar 3C 273.
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope continues to reshape our perception of the universe, elucidating complexities of quasars and black holes. The collaboration between NASA and ESA exemplifies the impact of international cooperation in unveiling cosmic phenomena.
Source: Science.nasa ˙ Youtube
