The relativistic jets of one of the galaxies changed their motion and rushed towards the Earth. Scientists were able to record such an event for the first time.
What is known
At the center of almost every galaxy is a supermassive black hole. It absorbs matter and produces radiation. This process takes place in a region called a quasar. Sometimes a black hole emits relativistic jets whose speed is close to the speed of light (299,792,458 m/s).
When the jets head towards the Earth, the luminosity of the object for observers increases dramatically. Such objects are called blazars. Recently, an international team of astronomers was able to record for the first time the transformation of the core of the galaxy PBC J2333.9-2343 from a quasar to a blazar.
Scientists report that the direction of the relativistic jet has changed by 90 degrees. Now it is directed to our planet. The galaxy PBC J2333.9-2343 is located at a distance of almost 657 million light years. Initially, its core was classified as a quasar, since the jets were not aimed at the Earth.
PBC J2333.9-2343 is a large galaxy, but not the largest in existence. Its diameter is 4 million light years. For comparison, the length of the jets of the Alcyoneus galaxy exceeds 16.4 million light years. The diameter of the Milky Way is 0.1 million light years.
According to the scientists, they were previously able to detect a change in the direction of the relativistic jet, but only by 180 degrees. The 90-degree turn of the jets may be associated with a merger of galaxies or with the activity of a black hole.
Source: New Atlas, Royal Astronomical Society
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