A US naval officer has made a groundbreaking discovery using the Hubble Space Telescope. Olivia Achenbach, an aspiring naval officer from the United States Naval Academy, unveiled surprising characteristics of the quasar J0742+2704.
Quasars are typically associated with older, massive galaxies that have undergone chaotic mergers and exhibit elliptical shapes. However, Achenbach’s discovery revealed a distinct spiral shape in the images captured by Hubble. This finding is significant because quasars with young jets and spiral arms are extremely rare.
Astronomer Kristina Nyland, Achenbach’s research advisor, described the discovery as “extremely rare and exciting.” The quasar J0742+2704 has a black hole more than 400 million times the mass of the Sun. Its spiral structure suggests alternative pathways for jet formation, which play a crucial role in galaxy evolution by suppressing star formation.
Hubble’s images show signs of potential interaction with nearby galaxies. One arm of J0742+2704 appears distorted, hinting at gravitational influences from another galaxy. Achenbach encourages ongoing observation, stating that continued exploration can lead to remarkable discoveries like this one.
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/us-naval-officer-makes-stunning-discovery-using-hubble-telescope-2664508-2025-01-14