Astronomers have identified the brightest object ever observed in the universe: a quasar called J0529-4351. Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), researchers discovered this record-breaking quasar, which is not only the most luminous object known but also the fastest-growing. black hole ever detected. The quasar, powered by a supermassive black hole at its center, emits light that is more than 500 trillion times brighter than the Sun and is growing at a rate equivalent to consuming one Sun per day.
This discovery, published in Nature Astronomy, highlights the extreme nature of quasarswhich are the intensely bright cores of galaxies. The quasar’s glow comes from a hot accretion disk, a spinning mass of gas and dust measuring seven light-years across – the largest known in the universe. Lead researcher Christian Wolf of the Australian National University (ANU) described the quasar as “possibly the most hellish place in the universe” due to its fast-moving clouds, extreme temperatures and cosmic rays.
Despite being visible since 1980, this quasar was only recently confirmed, as its brightness initially raised doubts about its classification. Confirmation was made using a 2.3-metre telescope at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia, and later the VLT revealed it to be the brightest quasar ever found. Co-author Christopher Onken, also from the ANU, expressed surprise that such a significant object had gone unnoticed while other, less impressive quasars were already well known.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
We respect the intellectual property rights of content creators. If you are the owner of any material featured on our website and have concerns about its use, please contact us. We are committed to addressing any copyright issues promptly and will remove any material within 2 days of receiving a request from the rightful owner.