Space
Brightest Galaxy in the Universe Discovered by NASA WISE
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: May 22, 2015 08:42 AM EDT
Scientists may have discovered the most luminous galaxy in the universe. Using NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), researchers have found a remote galaxy shining brightly with infrared light equal to more than 300 trillion suns.
"We are looking at a very intense phase of galaxy evolution," said Chao-Wei Tsai, lead author of the new study, in a news release. "This dazzling light may be from the main growth spurt in the size of the galaxy's black hole."
The galaxy in this case is known was WISE J224607.57-052635.0, which is known as an extremely luminous infrared galaxies (ELIRGs). The researchers believe that this galaxy may have a behemoth black hole at its core, gorging itself on gas. This would explain why the galaxy is so luminous.
Immense black holes are common at the cores of galaxies. However, finding one this big so far back in the cosmos is rare. Because light from the galaxy hosting the black hole has traveled 12.5 billion years to reach us, astronomers are seeing the object as it was in the past.
"The massive black holes in ELIRGs could be gorging themselves on more matter for a longer period of time," said Andrew Blain, one of the researchers, in a news release. "It's like winning a hot-dog-eating contest lasting hundreds of millions of years."
More research is needed in order to solve the puzzle of these luminous galaxies. Currently, the scientists hope to determine the masses of the central black holes. Knowing the true size of these objects will help reveal their history, as well as that of other galaxies.
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
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First Posted: May 22, 2015 08:42 AM EDT
Scientists may have discovered the most luminous galaxy in the universe. Using NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), researchers have found a remote galaxy shining brightly with infrared light equal to more than 300 trillion suns.
"We are looking at a very intense phase of galaxy evolution," said Chao-Wei Tsai, lead author of the new study, in a news release. "This dazzling light may be from the main growth spurt in the size of the galaxy's black hole."
The galaxy in this case is known was WISE J224607.57-052635.0, which is known as an extremely luminous infrared galaxies (ELIRGs). The researchers believe that this galaxy may have a behemoth black hole at its core, gorging itself on gas. This would explain why the galaxy is so luminous.
Immense black holes are common at the cores of galaxies. However, finding one this big so far back in the cosmos is rare. Because light from the galaxy hosting the black hole has traveled 12.5 billion years to reach us, astronomers are seeing the object as it was in the past.
"The massive black holes in ELIRGs could be gorging themselves on more matter for a longer period of time," said Andrew Blain, one of the researchers, in a news release. "It's like winning a hot-dog-eating contest lasting hundreds of millions of years."
More research is needed in order to solve the puzzle of these luminous galaxies. Currently, the scientists hope to determine the masses of the central black holes. Knowing the true size of these objects will help reveal their history, as well as that of other galaxies.
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone