QSO J0313–1806

QSO J0313–1806
Artist's impression of quasar J0313–1806 showing the supermassive black hole and the extremely high velocity wind
Observation data (Epoch J2000.0)
ConstellationEridanus
Right ascension03h 13m 43.84s
Declination−18° 06′ 36.4″[1]
Redshift7.6423±0.0013[1]
Distance13 billion ly (4.0 billion pc) (light travel distance)
30 billion ly (9 billion pc) (proper distance)
See also: Quasar, List of quasars

QSO J0313–1806[2] was the most distant, and hence also the oldest known quasar at z = 7.64, prior to the discovery of UHZ1 in 2023.[1] In January 2021, it was identified as the most redshifted (highest z) known quasar, with the oldest known supermassive black hole (SMBH) at (1.6±0.4)×109 solar masses.[3][4][5] The 2021 announcement paper described it as "the most massive SMBH at z > 7".[6]

One of the 2021 paper authors, Feige Wang, said that the existence of a supermassive black hole so early in the existence of the Universe posed problems for the current theories of formation since "black holes created by the very first massive stars could not have grown this large in only a few hundred million years".[4] The redshift z = 7.642 corresponds to an age of about 600 million years.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Wang et al. 2021.
  2. ^ "QSO J0313-1806". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  3. ^ Temming, Maria (January 18, 2021), "The most ancient supermassive black hole is bafflingly big", Science News, Washington, D.C.: Society for Science & the Public, vol. 199, no. 3, p. 4, retrieved February 28, 2021
  4. ^ a b Tasoff, Harrison (January 19, 2021), "Researchers discover the earliest supermassive black hole and quasar in the universe", phys.org, retrieved February 28, 2021
  5. ^ Wang F, Yang J, Fan X, Hennawi J, Barth A (January 12, 2021), "238.01. A Luminous Quasar at a Redshift of z=7.64", American Astronomical Society 237th Meeting, retrieved February 28, 2021
  6. ^ Wang et al. 2021, p. 4.

Sources

Further reading