Astronomers have gained their closest look yet at the quasar 3C 273 using the Hubble Space Telescope, providing new insights into this enigmatic object. Located in a galaxy generated by a supermassive black hole consuming cosmic material, 3C 273 emits an enormous jet of material into space at nearly the speed of light.
A 1963 observation by astronomer Maarten Schmidt was the first glimpse of 3C 273, but he didn’t know what it was. The unusual redshifted light from the quasar led to its discovery as a new type of object, dubbed a “quasar.”
Recent Hubble observations show a mix of blobs and structures within 16,000 lightyears of the black hole, raising questions about satellite galaxies orbiting it. As material falls inwards, it heats up, causing the galaxy’s centre to glow brightly.
The quasar produces thousands of times more energy than all stars in a galaxy, requiring a coronagraph to shield Hubble from its intense light. This allowed astronomers to observe the black hole eight times closer than before.
Hubble has provided valuable insights into the jet produced by 3C 273, which stretches 300,000 lightyears and is moving faster as it gets further away from the black hole. The findings have bridged a gap between small-scale observations and large-scale optical imaging, allowing for a more complete understanding of quasar morphology.
With the data collected, the James Webb Space Telescope may offer additional clues in future infrared observations. Quasar 3C 273 is just one of over one million known quasars visible in the night sky.
Source: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/hubble-quasar-3c-273