OJ 287
BL Lac object in the constellation Cancer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
OJ 287 is a BL Lac object 4 billion light-years from Earth that has produced quasi-periodic optical outbursts going back approximately 120 years, as first apparent on photographic plates from 1891. Seen on photographic plates since at least 1887,[3] it was first detected at radio wavelengths during the course of the Ohio Sky Survey. It is a supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB).[4] The intrinsic brightness of the flashes corresponds to over a trillion times the Sun's luminosity, greater than the entire Milky Way galaxy's light output.[5]
Quick Facts Observation data (Epoch J2000), Constellation ...
OJ 287 | |
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Observation data (Epoch J2000) | |
Constellation | Cancer |
Right ascension | 08h 54m 48.9s[1] |
Declination | +20° 06′ 31″[1] |
Redshift | 0.306000 [1] |
Distance | 4 Gly (1.226 Gpc) |
Type | BL Lac[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 15.43[2] |
Other designations | |
EGO 0851+202,[1] 3EG J0853+1941,[1] RGB J0854+201[1] | |
See also: Quasar, List of quasars |
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