Supermassive black hole, 12.9 billion years away and equal to 700 million suns' mass, spotted firing a giant beam at Earth

Astronomers have discovered a supermassive black hole firing a giant energy beam directly at Earth. This cosmic giant, weighing as much as 700 million suns, is located in a galaxy from the early universe. The discovery marks the most distant "blazar" ever found.

A Cosmic Powerhouse

The newly discovered blazar, J0410−0139, is about 12.9 billion light-years away. It was detected using data from several telescopes, including NASA's Chandra Observatory and Chile's Very Large Telescope. Quasars like this one are supermassive black holes that shoot twin jets of energy, one of which points directly at Earth in this case.

Blazars would shine as some of the brightest objects in the night sky if they were much closer to us. (Image: NASA)

These jets emit bright pulses of radiation as the black hole consumes matter. As the energy travels, it provides scientists with an opportunity to study the formation and evolution of early supermassive black holes.

Rewriting Cosmic History

J0410−0139 is the oldest blazar ever discovered. At 12.9 billion light-years away, it offers valuable insights into the formation of black holes. "The alignment of the jet with Earth allows us to peer into the heart of this cosmic powerhouse," said Emmanuel Momjian, an astronomer from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

The previous record-holder, PSO J0309+27, was 100 million years younger. This small age gap is significant as black holes can grow significantly in a relatively short time.

With fewer than 3,000 blazars discovered so far, this rare find opens the door for more discoveries. "Where there is one, there are many more to find," said Silvia Belladitta, a co-author of the study. The team is optimistic about finding more blazars in the near future.

This discovery provides a rare glimpse into the early universe and will help scientists understand the evolution of supermassive black holes.