Markarian 231

Markarian 231 (UGC 8058) is a Type-1 Seyfert galaxy that was discovered in 1969 as part of a search of galaxies with strong ultraviolet radiation. It contains the nearest known quasar. Markarian 231 is located about 581 million light years away from Earth.

Markarian 231
Hubble Space Telescope image of Markarian 231
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationUrsa Major
Right ascension 12h 56s
Declination+56° 51′ 59″
Redshift0.04147
Distance581 Mly
Apparent magnitude (V)13.60
Characteristics
TypeSc/quasar
Other designations
UGC 8058, Mrk 231, Mkn 231, Markarian 231, MCG+10-19-004, ZW VII 490, PGC 44117
References: SIMBAD

Characteristics

The Markarian 231 galaxy is now undergoing an energetic starburst. A nuclear ring of active star formation has been found in the center with a rate of formation greater than 100 solar masses per year. It is one of the most ultraluminous infrared galaxies with power derived from an accreting black hole in the center, and the closest known quasar.

A 2015 study suggested that the central black hole, estimated to be 150 million times the mass of our Sun, may have a black hole companion weighing in at 4 million solar masses, and that the duo completed an orbit around each other every 1.2 years.[1] However, that model has subsequently been shown to be unfeasible.[2]

Another study has found evidence for the presence of molecular oxygen (O2) by using submillimetre astronomy, the first time molecular oxygen had been detected outside of the Milky Way galaxy.[3]

See also

References
  1. "HubbleSite - NewsCenter - Hubble Finds That the Nearest Quasar Is Powered by a Double Black Hole (08/27/2015) - The Full Story". hubblesite.org. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  2. Leighly, Karen M.; Terndrup, Donald M.; Gallagher, Sarah C.; Lucy, Adrian B. (2016). "The Binary Black Hole Model for Mrk 231 Bites the Dust". The Astrophysical Journal. 829: 4. arXiv:1604.03456. doi:10.3847/0004-637X/829/1/4.
  3. Wang, Junzhi; Li, Di; Goldsmith, Paul F.; Zhang, Zhi-Yu; Gao, Yu; Shi, Yong; Li, Shanghuo; Fang, Min; Li, Juan; Zhang, Jiangshui (30 January 2020). "Molecular Oxygen in the Nearest QSO Mrk 231". The Astrophysical Journal. 889 (2): 129. arXiv:2001.11675. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/ab612d.


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