VOA科学技术2024--Scientists Identify Possibly Brightest Object in the Universe

Scientists Identify Possibly Brightest Object in the Universe

　　Astronomers² say they may have discovered the brightest object ever observed in the universe.

　　The discovery involves a distant space object known as a quasar. The American space agency NASA describes quasars as "very bright, distant and active supermassive black holes that are millions to billions of times the mass of the Sun."

　　A quasar's light "outshines" all other stars and "its jets and winds shape" its galaxy³, NASA adds.

　　A team led by Australian researchers identified the super bright quasar. The European Southern Observatory⁴'s (ESO's) Very Large Telescope, based in northern Chile, collected most of the data. Additional data came from Australia's Siding Spring Observatory.

　　The researchers estimate the record-breaking quasar is at least 500 trillion times brighter than our own sun. The team also noted⁵ the black hole powering the object is more than 17 billion times larger than our sun.

　　The quasar is about 12 billion light years away from Earth. It is thought to have existed since the early days of the universe. A light year is the distance light travels in a year – about 9.5 trillion kilometers.

　　The object was already known and had been studied before. But scientists say it was misidentified in the past as a star. The newly identified quasar is so large that its black hole could easily swallow at least one sun per day, the team said.

　　The researchers recently reported their finding in a study in the publication Nature Astronomy.

　　The quasar appears only as a small dot in images. But scientists say they imagine it to be a very powerful and active place. The team says the black hole is thought to have a circulating disk containing gas and other matter from swallowed stars. The disk spins continuously like an intense, active storm.

　　"This quasar is the most violent place that we know in the universe," said the lead writer of the study, Christian⁶ Wolf. He is an astronomer¹ and professor in the College of Science at Australian National University.

　　The ESO first found the object, known as J0529-4351, in 1980. At the time, it was identified, or classified, as a star. Then last year, it was identified as a quasar.

　　The latest observations and computer modeling suggest the quasar is taking in amounts of material equal to about 370 suns a year, or about one per day. The team says more observations will be needed to fully⁷ understand the object's growth rate.

　　Priyamvada Natarajan is a professor of astronomy and physics at Yale University. She was not part of the latest study. But Natarajan told the Associated Press, "The exciting thing about this quasar is that it was hiding in plain sight and was misclassified as a star previously⁸."

　　Study co-writer Christopher Onken added, "It is a surprise that it has remained unknown until today, when we already know about a million less impressive quasars."

　　The researchers say finding and studying distant supermassive black holes could help astronomers learn important details about the birth and development of the early universe. But study leader Wolf noted that he also gets enjoyment⁹ out of the search itself.

　　"Personally, I simply like the chase," he said in a statement. "For a few minutes a day, I get to feel like a child again, playing treasure hunt. And now, I bring everything to the table that I have learned since."

　　Future research is expected to center on the history of the quasar and measuring its growth and development. The team noted that some of this data should be easier to collect after the Very Large Telescope receives an instrument upgrade. The upgrade, known as Gravity+, is designed to provide more exact measurements of the mass of distant black holes.

　　In addition, the ESO plans to launch a future observer, called the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), in Chile's Atacama Desert. That telescope, the researchers say, will improve on current identification and study methods to identify such distant objects.

　　Words in This Story

　　disk – n. a flat, round object

　　impressive – adj. something considered noteworthy or causing admiration¹⁰ or respect

　　upgrade – n. to improve something that is higher quality of a newer model

1 astronomer   

n.天文学家

参考例句：

• A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
• He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。

2 astronomers   

n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

4 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

8 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

9 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

10 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。