The European Space Agency presented the results of a study of the early Universe conducted on
Quasars are a rare, incredibly bright typeactive galactic nucleus (AGN). It is believed that such an object is at the stage of formation. At the same time, the supermassive black hole, which is located in the center of the AGN, actively absorbs surrounding matter, forming an accretion disk.
Red quasar SDSS J165202.64+172852.3.The image in the center consists of four narrowband images (far right panel) taken in the integrated field spectroscopy mode of the Webb telescope's NIRSpec instrument. Image: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, D. Wylezalek, A. Vayner & the Q3D Team, N. Zakamska
Light coming from the quasar SDSS J165202.64+172852.3 reached Earth 11.5 billion years ago. This means that now we are observing it as it was at the earliest stages of the development of the Universe. This quasar is one of the most powerful galactic nuclei known to have been seen at such an extreme distance.
Usually quasars emit a huge amount of light.at all wavelengths, but SDSS J165202.64+172852.3 belongs to the unusual red class. The red light from this AGN is further shifted towards longer wavelengths due to the redshift. That is why Webb, with its unique infrared sensitivity, is ideal for studying a quasar.
Using space telescope observations,scientists have discovered three galactic companions surrounding AGN. These galaxies revolve around each other at incredibly high speeds, indicating the presence of a large mass. How densely packed they are in the region surrounding the quasar makes this group one of the densest known regions of galaxy formation in the early universe, the scientists conclude.
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On the cover: a "deep field" image, with a red quasar in the center. Image: ESA/Hubble, NASA, N. Zakamska