Research
Euclid discovers ancient cosmic beacons from the dawn of time, shining like a trillion suns
The Brief
- ESA's Euclid space telescope has discovered 31 ancient quasars.
- Two of the objects are record-breaking, shining with the brightness of a trillion Suns.
- The quasars date from when the Universe was about 670 million years old and are powered by supermassive black holes.
Why it matters
The finding adds to the sample of very distant, luminous quasars, which helps astronomers study how supermassive black holes formed and grew in the early Universe.
Who’s affected
- astronomers and cosmologists studying the early Universe
ESA’s Euclid space telescope has discovered 31 ancient quasars, including two record-breaking objects that shone with the brightness of a trillion Suns when the Universe was just 670 million years old. Powered by supermassive black holes, these extraordinary cosmic beacons reveal…