Astronomers Identify Strongest Candidate for a Microblazar, Live Science Says
- Astronomers have identified the strongest candidate yet for a microblazar, a cosmic object predicted by theory but never spotted until now.
- The newly described object rests inside our galaxy approximately 12,000 light-years from Earth, obscured behind a veil of dust.
- They represent a specific type of quasar powered by a supermassive black hole that strips material from a host galaxy and launches opposing jets of particles and radiation.
Astronomers have identified the strongest candidate yet for a microblazar, a cosmic object predicted by theory but never spotted until now. Researchers describe the system, cataloged as IRAS 18293-0941, in a study accepted for publication in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, according to Live Science.
IRAS 18293-0941 Sits Twelve Thousand Light-Years Away
The newly described object rests inside our galaxy approximately 12,000 light-years from Earth, obscured behind a veil of dust. Live Science reported that the system operates as a binary setup where a black hole orbits a hot, gigantic star every 11 days. Matter from the star falls into the black hole, and gets ejected into surrounding space via two opposing jets. One of these jets flares toward Earth.
Blazars are among the universe’s most energetic phenomena. They represent a specific type of quasar powered by a supermassive black hole that strips material from a host galaxy and launches opposing jets of particles and radiation. When one of those near-light-speed jets points directly at Earth, astronomers classify it as a blazar. Researchers previously discovered smaller versions of quasars, termed microquasars, which led theorists to predict that smaller versions of blazars must also exist.
Telescopes Capture Missing Characteristics Except Rapid Variability
An international team led by astronomers in Spain, the Netherlands, and Argentina examined the target using multiple astronomical instruments. Observations relied on the Calar Alto Astronomical Observatory in Spain, the European VLBI Network of radio telescopes, the MeerKAT radio telescope array in South Africa, and archival data from the Very Large Array in New Mexico, Live Science reported. Theorists predicted that microblazars should exhibit powerful emissions across the electromagnetic spectrum, rapid changes in brightness (variability) driven by Doppler boosting, and a hotspot behind them where opposing jets heat the interstellar medium.
The observed system matches nearly all predicted microblazar benchmarks, differing only in its lack of rapid variability. Josep Martí, an astronomer at the University of Jaén in Spain and first author of the study, explained to Live Science that the dense cloud of gas surrounding IRAS 18293-0941 could smooth out quick fluctuations in brightness. Martí noted that catching such a system remains difficult because the microquasar phase of evolution is very short.
Independent Scientists Assess the Discovery
Kinwah Wu, a theoretical astrophysicist at University College London who did not participate in the research, told Live Science that the claims and the results of the paper are sensible and there are no questionable hidden assumptions.
Study co-author Pedro Luque-Escamilla, an astronomer at the University of Jaén, told Live Science that researchers are actively investigating whether the observed area behind the microblazar constitutes a hotspot.
Researchers Investigate Potential Hotspot Origins
Scientists continue to analyze whether the structure located opposite the Earth-facing jet functions as the theorized hotspot.