A quasar from 13 billion years ago is helping astronomers unlock the secrets of the early universe.
Key Takeaways:
- Astronomers have discovered P352-15, the brightest known quasar from the early universe, 13 billion years old.
- This ancient quasar offers a unique opportunity to study how the first galaxies shaped the cosmos.
- P352-15’s powerful jets provide insights into the Epoch of Reionization, when the universe became transparent.
- Scientists are debating whether its three bright spots represent a one-sided or two-sided jet structure.
- Though not the oldest galaxy ever found, P352-15 is the best early-universe quasar for detailed study.
_______
Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery, identifying the brightest quasar from the early universe. Named PSO J352.4034-15.3373, or P352-15 for short, this quasar is a staggering 13 billion years old, meaning it formed just 800 million years after the Big Bang. The discovery, detailed in two papers published in the Astrophysical Journal, offers a new window into the Epoch of Reionization—a period when the first galaxies and black holes transformed the universe.
A Glimpse Into the Early Cosmos
The early universe was filled with neutral hydrogen, making it difficult to see across vast distances. As the first stars and galaxies formed, their energy began reionizing the hydrogen, allowing light to travel freely and making the cosmos visible. Quasars—galaxies with supermassive black holes at their center—played a major role in this process.
Using data from the Very Large Array in New Mexico, researchers captured an image of P352-15, revealing three distinct components spread across 5,000 light-years. They believe the central spot is the quasar itself, while the other two represent massive jets of gas ejected from the black hole. However, scientists are still debating whether the jets are one-sided or symmetrical.
A Key to Understanding the Early Universe
While P352-15 is not the oldest galaxy ever observed—that title belongs to GN-z11, which dates back 13.4 billion years—it is the brightest from this era. Its visibility makes it one of the best tools for studying how the first galaxies formed and evolved.
“This quasar may be the most distant object in which we could measure the speed of such a jet,” said NRAO astronomer Emmanuel Momjian. The discovery of P352-15 adds another piece to the puzzle of how the first galaxies reshaped the universe and led to the clear, star-filled skies we see today.
