I got me self a Quasar (Q2237-0607) mag 18.3 with Redshift z=4.55

[Dennis]

I first read about the discovery of Quasars, these enigmatic, distant, energetic objects, as a schoolboy. I never imagined that one day, I would be able to record the stellar like presence of one through a small telescope in my back garden. After a “why not try for a Quasar” PM from Beren, I gave it a go – thanks Stuart!:)

In SkyTools 4 Imaging, using the Database Power Search Tool for Extragalactic Objects, I found a list of Quasars, filtered by date and my location, with a Redshift z >4, visible in August.:)

The 1st entry (Q2237-0607 in Aquarius) in the list looked like a good candidate at mag 18.3 so I slewed to the location and grabbed a series of 40x30 sec images and was pleasantly surprised to find a good match.:)

I also found an interesting APOD that showed a “Redshift Lookup Table for our Universe” which itself linked to the original Technical Paper which can be viewed as a PDF. It is described as a “Paper-and-pencil cosmological calculator” for when you don’t have an Internet Connection.

SkyTools 4 Imaging Data (sub-set)

Q2237-0607
Quasar
R.A. 22h39m53.6s Dec.: -05°52'19" (2000) in Aquarius
Magnitude: 18.30 R
Size: stellar
Redshift (z): 4.55
Light Time: 12.0 Gyr
Apparent Data for 2021 Jul 30 GMT+10 at Brisbane, Australia:
Apparent RA: 22h41m01.1s, Apparent Dec: -05°45'33"


LINKS:
APOD
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130408.html

Paper-and-pencil cosmological calculator PDF
https://arxiv.org/abs/1303.5961

Cheers

Dennis

Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5 with Tak x0.8 RF
ASI 290 MM Pro
40x30 secs

[RobF]

Holy c#r@ Dennis!
That's amazing - again! :)

[beren]

:thumbsup: Awesome Dennis, great work capturing truly distant light .


Little table to put Z=4.55 into perspective :)



z Time the light has been traveling. Distance to the object now

0.0000715 1 million years 1 million light years
0.10 1.286 billion years 1.349 billion light years
0.25 2.916 billion years 3.260 billion light years
0.5 5.019 billion years 5.936 billion light years
1 7.731 billion years 10.147 billion light years
2 10.324 billion years 15.424 billion light years
3 11.476 billion years 18.594 billion light years
4 12.094 billion years 20.745 billion light years
5 12.469 billion years 22.322 billion light years
6 12.716 billion years 23.542 billion light years
7 12.888 billion years 24.521 billion light years
8 13.014 billion years 25.329 billion light years
9 13.110 billion years 26.011 billion light years
10 13.184 billion years 26.596 billion light years

[Dennis]

Thanks Rob and Stuart, the z=4.55 Redhsift explain why the red photons weren't getting through the Red Filter in my FW, they were simply too tired after travelling all that distance.;)

Cheers

Dennis

[peter_4059]

Amazing Dennis. You always come up with something new and extraordinary. Hard to comprehend capturing something that distant with relatively modest gear in backyard Brisbane. Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:

[h0ughy]

Wow that's so typically DENNIS

Awe-inspiring and simply deserves applause from the cheap seats. :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown: :2thumbs: :clap: :jawdrop:

[astroron]

Brilliant as usual Dennis:eyepop:
But if you can do that with such a "little Scope" :P
it should be a cinch in my 16" ;) Lol:lol:
Cheers:thumbsup:

[ChrisM]

Well done Dennis - that's a heck of a distance. Image how bright it must be to see from this far away!

The only quasar I've seen was 3C 273 at just 1/3 of that distance, plus it's mag 12.9 so readily captured via a single short exposure.

Cheers, Chris

[AnakChan]

Well done Dennis! Beren told me about your capture and lead me to this thread. Great effort there!

[Dennis]

I managed to track down another couple of Quasars:

BR 2248-1242

R.A. 22h51m18.1s Dec.: -12°27'03" (2000) in Aquarius
Magnitude: 18.50 R
Redshift (z): 4.15
Light Time: 12.0 Gyr


BRI J0113-2803

R.A. 01h13m44.4s Dec.: -28°03'18" (2000) in Sculptor
Magnitude: 18.70 R
Redshift (z): 4.30
Light Time: 12.0 Gyr


There is another one on the BRI J0113 image that “got away”; Q0111-0028 which at mag 18.7 “should” have been captured at the top-middle of frame as shown in the SkyTools 4 Imaging Overlay, but it did not register.

If I get another opportunity, I might try for Q0111-0028 again but using an IR642 Filter.

Q0111-0028

R.A. 01h13m52.5s Dec.: -28°14'08" (2000) in Sculptor
Magnitude: 18.70
Redshift (z): 4.30
Light Time: 12.0 Gyr


Tak Mewlon 210 F11.5 with Tak x0.8 RF.
ASI 294 MM Pro camera

Cheers

Dennis