In a cosmic revelation that defies imagination, astronomers in Australia have unveiled the most luminous object ever discovered in the universe: the record-breaking J059-4351 quasar. This celestial behemoth, powered by a colossal black hole, outshines our sun by a staggering 500 trillion times.
At the heart of this extraordinary quasar lies a black hole of unprecedented proportions, boasting a mass 17 billion times that of our sun. Consuming the equivalent of the sun’s material daily, this voracious black hole fuels the quasar’s unparalleled brilliance, its light traversing an awe-inspiring distance of 12 billion light-years to reach us.
Published in the prestigious journal Nature Astronomy, the findings of this monumental discovery emerged from a collaborative effort between the Australian National University, the European Southern Observatory, the University of Melbourne, and Sorbonne Université.
Lead author Associate Professor Christian Wolf of ANU expressed astonishment, declaring the record-breaking feat unlikely to be surpassed. “The incredible rate of growth also means a huge release of light and heat,” he remarked. “So, this is also the most luminous known object in the universe. It’s 500 trillion times brighter than our sun.”
Co-author Dr. Christopher Onken echoed the sentiment, highlighting the quasar’s stealthy concealment until now. “It’s a surprise it remained undetected until now, given what we know about many other, less impressive black holes. It was hiding in plain sight.”
Professor Rachel Webster from the University of Melbourne offered insight into the quasar’s origins, depicting a chaotic universe in its adolescence, where matter fed ravenous black holes. Today, she noted, stars orbit at safe distances, rarely succumbing to the gravitational pull of black holes.
The intense radiation emitted by J059-4351 originates from its accretion disc, a swirling vortex of matter awaiting consumption by the black hole. Associate Professor Wolf vividly described the spectacle: “It looks like a gigantic and magnetic storm cell with temperatures of 10,000 degrees Celsius, lightning everywhere, and winds blowing so fast they would go around Earth in a second.”
Spanning seven light-years across, this cosmic storm cell dwarfs our solar system, underscoring the magnitude of this discovery. Associate Professor Wolf emphasized the indispensable role of the Australian Government’s partnership with the European Southern Observatory in enabling such groundbreaking revelations.
In a universe teeming with marvels, the unveiling of J059-4351 stands as a testament to humanity’s insatiable quest for cosmic understanding.
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