Ton 618

Ton 618 is one of the brightest and most massive quasars known in the universe.

It lies at a distance of approximately 10.4 billion light-years from Earth, in the constellation Canes Venatici.

Discovered by a team of astronomers led by Dr. Lyndon M. Smithee in 1976, it was by detecting its intense light emission in the optical spectrum that this powerful supermassive quasar was identified and catalogued, and it has been the subject of astronomers' studies and research ever since.

What makes Ton 618 so special is its incredible luminosity. It is estimated to emit an amount of energy equivalent to 140 trillion times the luminosity of our Sun. That is truly astonishing!

In addition, it is believed to have a supermassive black hole at its centre, which contributes to its intense radiation and light emission.

This quasar has unique features that distinguish it from other similar objects in the Universe.

For example, its emission spectrum shows unusually broad absorption lines, suggesting the presence of a massive accretion disc around the central black hole.

However, despite its dazzling brightness, Ton 618 is also a mysterious object.

Scientists are still investigating how it formed and how it came to have such an enormous mass.

Their study provides valuable information about the evolution of quasars and the growth of black holes in the early Universe.