Hubble Telescope Captures Sharpest Quasar Image Ever

Explore the exciting milestone accomplished by the Hubble Space Telescope - capturing the sharpest image of the quasar 3C 273, one of the closest and brightest to Earth, advancing our understanding of these colossal black holes at galaxy centers.

The Hubble Space Telescope has achieved a remarkable astrological milestone

by obtaining the sharpest image of a quasar known as 3C 273, situated approximately 2.5 billion light-years away from our own planet. Renowned for its dazzling brightness, this quasar is not only one of the nearest to Earth but also stands out due to its incredible luminosity.

Quasars, which are among the brightest entities in the cosmos, draw their power from gigantic black holes situated at the centers of galaxies. Although these black holes are essentially invisible, due to their inability to emit light, the exceptionally hot matter that orbits around them shines intensely as it gets pulled in, radiating light over a wide spectrum.

A Leap Forward in our Understanding of Quasars

Astronomer Bin Ren from the Côte d’Azur Observatory and Université Côte d’Azur in France shared the team’s excitement by stating, “The Hubble Space Telescope’s remarkable observational capabilities have opened a new portal for us to comprehend quasars.” The recent observations made by Hubble, employing the Space Telescope Imaging System (STIS) and a custom-made coronagraph, revealed incredible details by filtering out the most intense light, which made it possible to examine the structures within the galaxy to a distance of 16,000 light-years.

These details that were witnessed include tiny blobs that could be smaller satellite galaxies being pulled into the quasar, a newly identified central jet, and a mysterious L-shaped structure. Moreover, the study shed light on the astrophysical jet propelled by the black hole, which stretches out for 300,000 light-years, revealing that the jet seems to pick up speed the farther it travels from its point of origin.

Although the complex nature of these observed phenomena is not fully understood, Ren highlighted that “Hubble has served as a bridge, linking the more finely detailed radio interferometry and broader optical imaging observations,” which is crucial for a more comprehensive grasp on the behaviors and forms of quasars.

This luminous quasar can be observed using amateur telescopes, despite its considerable distance from Earth, and serves as a guidepost for future inquiries. Observations with Hubble, as well as potential studies with the James Webb Space Telescope in infrared, promise to illuminate the unusual features further. These investigative achievements have been documented in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, contributing significantly to our quest to decode the enigmas of one of the cosmos’ most potent phenomena..