LBQS 1429-008

LBQS 1429-008 (QQ 1429−008, QQ 1432−0106, QQQ J1432−0106) is a distant physical triple quasar located 10.5 billion light years away from Earth in the constellation of Virgo.^[2] It was discovered in 1989 by Paul Hewett and his colleagues from the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge in England.^[3]

LBQS 1429-008
A image of the Quasar.
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Constellation	Virgo
Right ascension	14h 32m 29.25s
Declination	−01° 06′ 16.1″
Redshift	2.08[1]
Distance	10.5 gly
Type	QSO
Apparent magnitude (V)	17.7
Notable features	Triple quasar system
Other designations
LBQS 1429-0053, QSO B1429-0053, SDSS J143229.24-010616.0, VV2006 J143229.2-010617, FIRST J143229.3-010614, QSO B1429-008A, HB93 1429-008, QSO B1429-0053A, QSO J1432-0106A, QSO B1429-008
See also: Quasar, List of quasars

Originally a binary pair instead of a gravitational lensed quasar,^[4] a third quasar component was found in LBQS 1429-008 during an observation by a team of researchers from Keck Observatory who used a 10-meter telescope.^[5] This makes them the first physical triple quasar discovered.^[6][7] The system has an estimated separation of 30-50 kiloparsecs.^[7]

References

1. Simbad
2. [e-mail]. "Triple quasar QQQ 1429-008". www.eso.org. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
3. [e-mail]. "It Is No Mirage! - Large Telescopes Team Up to Help Astronomers Discover a Trio of Quasars". www.eso.org. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
4. Faure, C.; Alloin, D.; Gras, S.; Courbin, F.; Kneib, J.-P.; Hudelot, P. (2003-07-01). "LBQS 1429-0053: A binary quasar rather than a lensed quasar". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 405 (2): 415–424. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20030614. ISSN 0004-6361.
5. "A genuine "triple star" quasar". www.astroarts.co.jp. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
6. Sky & Telescope The First Triple Quasar January 10, 2007
7. Djorgovski, S. G.; Courbin, F.; Meylan, G.; Sluse, D.; Thompson, D.; Mahabal, A.; Glikman, E. (2007-06-01). "Discovery of a Probable Physical Triple Quasar". The Astrophysical Journal. 662: L1–L5. doi:10.1086/519162. ISSN 0004-637X.