Indian Astronomers detect huge Optical Flare in Astronomic Object

February 13, 2021

Indian Astronomers have detected one of the strongest optical flares in one of the oldest astronomical objects that is supermassive black hole or blazar called BL Lacertae.

Highlights

The analysis of the coming out from the blazar will help in tracing the mass of the black hole.
It would also help in tracing the source of this emission.
The analysis is significant in providing a lead to probe into mysteries and useful in tracing the events of evolution of the Universe.

About Blazars

Blazars are the feeding supermassive black holes situated in the heart of distant galaxies. The blazars receive a lot of attention due to their complicated emission mechanism. They emit jets of charged particles. The jets travel equally at the speed of light. They are the one among the most luminous and energetic objects found in the Universe.

BL Lacertae blazar

This blazar is situated 10 million light-years away from the Earth. It is one among the 50 most prominent blazars that can be seen with small telescope.
This blazar was predicted to be experiencing flares with the help of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT).
It is a type of active galactic nucleus (AGN) or a galaxy which has been named after its prototype, BL Lacertae.
They are characterized by a rapid and a large-amplitude flux variability.
They also show significant optical polarization.
These properties of the blazar are very similar to that of variable star.
It comprises of spectra which is dominated by a featureless non-thermal emission continuum.

BL Lacertae

It is a highly variable and extragalactic active galactic nucleus. It was first observed and discovered by Cuno Hoffmeister in the year 1929. It was earlier given a designation of a variable star in the Milky Way galaxy.

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