Daily Current Affairs : 30-August-2024
Astronomers have recently discovered the brightest object ever observed in the universe: a quasar named J0529-4351. This quasar, identified using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), has amazed scientists with its incredible brightness and size.
What is a Quasar?
A quasar, short for “quasi-stellar object,” is an extremely energetic and luminous core of a distant galaxy. Quasars are powered by supermassive black holes located at the center of these galaxies. These black holes draw in vast amounts of matter, forming a rotating accretion disc around them. As the material in this disc gets heated to extremely high temperatures, it emits enormous amounts of energy. Because of this, quasars are among the brightest and most powerful objects in the universe.
The Power of J0529-4351
J0529-4351 is an extraordinary quasar for several reasons:
- Brightness: It is over 500 trillion times brighter than the Sun.
- Growth Rate: The quasar is growing by consuming the equivalent of one Sun per day, an astonishingly rapid rate.
- Distance: Located more than 12 billion light-years away from Earth, we are observing it as it appeared during the very early stages of the universe.
The Supermassive Black Hole at Its Core
At the heart of J0529-4351 lies a supermassive black hole, which has a mass 17 billion times that of our Sun. This black hole acts as the power source for the quasar, driving its immense energy output. Surrounding this black hole is an accretion disc that spans about seven light-years in diameter. This makes it the largest known accretion disc in the universe.
Important Points:
- J0529-4351 is the brightest object ever discovered in the universe, identified using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT).
- Quasars are extremely bright and energetic objects powered by supermassive black holes at the centers of distant galaxies.
- Brightness: J0529-4351 is over 500 trillion times brighter than the Sun.
- Growth Rate: The quasar is consuming the equivalent of one Sun per day, growing at an incredibly fast rate.
- Distance: It is located over 12 billion light-years away from Earth, observed as it appeared in the early universe.
- The quasar’s supermassive black hole has a mass 17 billion times that of the Sun, powering the quasar’s intense energy output.
- The accretion disc around the black hole is about seven light-years in diameter, the largest known in the universe.
- The discovery of J0529-4351 provides valuable insights into the behavior of quasars and the evolution of galaxies.
Why In News
Astronomers have discovered the brightest object ever observed in the universe, a quasar named J0529-4351, using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT). This discovery marks a significant milestone in astrophysical research, offering new insights into the extreme power of quasars and the role of supermassive black holes in the early universe.
MCQs about The Brightest Quasar: J0529-4351 and Its Supermassive Black Hole
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What is the name of the brightest object ever observed in the universe?
A. J0529-4351
B. Andromeda Galaxy
C. Milky Way Quasar
D. Sagittarius A*
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How much brighter is the quasar J0529-4351 compared to the Sun?
A. 100 trillion times
B. 500 trillion times
C. 1 billion times
D. 1 trillion times
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How quickly is the quasar J0529-4351 growing?
A. By consuming one planet per day
B. By consuming one Sun per day
C. By consuming one Earth per day
D. By consuming one star every week
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What is the diameter of the accretion disc surrounding the supermassive black hole in J0529-4351?
A. 1 light-year
B. 3 light-years
C. 7 light-years
D. 10 light-years
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