SDSS J0303-0019
Observation data (Epoch J2000.0)
ConstellationCetus
Right ascension03h 03m 31.40s
Declination−00° 19′ 12.9″
Redshift6.070
Distance12.729 billion light-years
(Light travel time)
27.56 billion light-years
(Comoving distance)
Apparent magnitude (V)23.9
Other designations
QSO J0303-0019 , SDSS J030331.40-001912.9, JFA2008 J030331.40-001912.9
See also: Quasar, List of quasars

SDSS J0303-0019[1] is a distant quasar in the z≥6 regime. It is one of the first two quasars discovered that appear to be "dust-free",[2] the other being QSO J0005-0006.[3]

On 17 March 2010, Xiaohui Fan, an astronomer at the University of Arizona, leader of the team that made the discovery, announced the discovery of two quasars that have dustless spectra. The implication of this result is that the region of space in which they inhabit is primordially pristine, having not been polluted by "dust" created by the first stars.[4][5] These are thought to represent the earliest type of quasar.[6] They also announced the next earliest class of quasar, where dust is detected in proportion to the growth of the galaxy. In more recent quasars, dust is not related to the quasar or galaxy.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "QSO J0303-0019". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  2. ^ Scientific Computing, "Fast-growing Primitive Black Holes found in Distant Quasars " (accessed 4 April 2010)
  3. ^ DNA India, "Astronomers discover most primitive supermassive black holes known", ANI, 19 March 2010 (accessed 6 April 2010)
  4. ^ Times of India, "Most primitive supermassive black holes known 'discovered'", 19 March 2010 (accessed 6 April 2010)
  5. ^ Softpedia, "First Black Holes Almost As Old As the Universe", Tudor Vieru, 18 March 2010 (accessed 6 April 2010)
  6. ^ Discovery News, "Primordial 'Dust Free' Monsters Lurk at the Edge of the Universe" Archived 2010-03-23 at the Wayback Machine, Ian O'Neill, 18 March 2010 (accessed 6 April 2010)
  7. ^ Nature, "Dust-free quasars in the early Universe", Linhua Jiang, Xiaohui Fan, W. N. Brandt, Chris L. Carilli, Eiichi Egami1, Dean C. Hines, Jaron D. Kurk, Gordon T. Richards, Yue Shen, Michael A. Strauss, Marianne Vestergaard, Fabian Walter, 18 March 2010, vol.464, pp.380-383, doi:10.1038/nature08877 , Bibcode:2010Natur.464..380J , arXiv:1003.3432 (accessed 6 April 2010)


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