Chapter 1: Introduction to Quasars

Quasars are fascinating astronomical phenomena that have captivated scientists for years. A recent discovery has brought attention to a quasar located an astounding 13 billion light-years away from Earth, providing a rare glimpse into the universe's distant past.

This significant finding, originating from a powerful quasar, highlights the existence of radio emissions that have traveled vast distances to reach our planet. Astronomers have long been intrigued by radio signals, particularly since the iconic "Wow signal" was detected in 1977. This event spurred ongoing research into deep-space radio communications. In recent years, the focus has shifted toward understanding Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). While their origins remain largely unknown, consistent observations have confirmed that these bursts are not random and can occur within our Milky Way galaxy.

Section 1.1: The Discovery of P172+18

A collaborative effort among astronomers from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile has led to the discovery of the farthest radio signals recorded to date. Using advanced telescopes such as the Magellan Telescope and the Very Large Array, scientists confirmed that these signals emanated from a "radio-loud" quasar.

“Locating quasars from these early epochs feels like finding a needle in a haystack. Given that only 10 percent of quasars exhibit strong radio emissions, these objects are exceedingly rare,” remarked Eduardo Bañados, a co-lead researcher on the study.

Subsection 1.1.1: What is a Quasar?

A quasar is an exceptionally bright celestial object characterized by powerful jets that emit radio waves. These objects represent a unique type of galactic core, radiating immense amounts of light and energy. Quasars are considered to be the most luminous centers of large galaxies, prevalent during the universe's formative years, powered by supermassive black holes at their cores.

Chapter 2: Exploring the Significance of P172+18

The newly identified quasar, designated P172+18, is remarkable not only for its distance but also for the age of the light we receive from it—approximately 780 million years after the Big Bang. Previous quasars have been observed emitting radio frequencies, yet none have shown evidence of radio jets this early in cosmic history. Only a small fraction—around 10%—of quasars are classified as "radio-loud."

Researchers identified that P172+18 is powered by a black hole approximately 300 million times more massive than the Sun, rapidly consuming surrounding gas. They speculate that there may be a connection between the swift growth of supermassive black holes and the potent radio jets observed in quasars like P172+18. The title of the farthest quasar is currently held by J0313-806, which appears to predate P172+18 by about 100 million years but lacks any detectable radio signals.

The energy jets produced by these quasars are thought to influence the gas surrounding the black hole, potentially accelerating the rate at which gas is drawn in. By studying such radio-loud quasars, astronomers hope to gain insights into how black holes in the early universe grew to their impressive sizes shortly after the universe's inception.

The findings of this groundbreaking research were published in The Astrophysical Journal.

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The second video highlights visual observations of quasar 3C 273, which is located two billion light-years away, showcasing the capabilities of amateur telescopes in deep-space exploration.