Research
Science Release: Astronomers Discover Nāpōwawāʻenakaulua, the Oldest Compact Quasar Pair in the Universe
NOIRLab ·
The Brief
- Astronomers reported the oldest compact quasar pair ever observed, found about 900 million years after the Big Bang.
- The pair, named Nāpōwawāʻenakaulua, consists of two actively feeding black holes.
- Scientists say there is no theoretical explanation yet for how these black holes grew so massive so early.
Why it matters
The discovery puts a direct observational constraint on how quickly supermassive black holes could form and grow in the early universe, and current theory does not yet account for it.
Who’s affected
- astronomers studying the early universe and black hole growth
- #quasars
- #black holes
- #early universe
- #astronomy
- #galaxy evolution
The oldest pair of compact quasars ever observed has been found only 900 million years after the Big Bang. Scientists say there is no theoretical explanation for how the pair of actively feeding black holes grew so massive at such an early time in the history of the Universe. The…
Timeline
NOIRLab announces the discovery of Nāpōwawāʻenakaulua, the oldest compact quasar pair observed
Boletín de Noticias de NOIRLab
Science Release: Astronomers Discover Nāpōwawāʻenakaulua, the Oldest Compact Quasar Pair in the Universe