SDSS J1254+0846 [1]
Observation data (Epoch )
Right ascension12h 54m 55.1s [1]
Declination+08° 46′ 54″ [1]
Redshift0.44 [1]
TypeSRBQ[FN 1][2]
See also: Quasar, List of quasars

SDSS J1254+0846 is a face-on binary quasar pair which is in the process of merging.[2] This binary quasar is the first resolved luminous pair to be observed in the act of merging.[3] The pair is composed of two luminous radio-quiet quasars located at redshift z=0.44,[3][4] being SDSS J125455.09+084653.9 (SDSS J1254+0846 A) and SDSS J125454.87+084652.1 (SDSS J1254+0846 B), or SDSS J1254+0846 collectively.[2] These designations also refer to their host galaxies. This pair provide evidence for the theory that quasars are switched on by galactic collisions.[2] The pair are optically separated by 3.6 arcseconds, giving the real separation as 21 kpc. Tidal tails some 75 kpc have been detected around the galaxies.[4] Thus the two galaxies involved are disc galaxies.[2] The pair was first detected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, hence the "SDSS" designations.[5] The tidal tails were first observed by the Magellan Telescopes.[6] A computer simulation by Thomas Cox of the Carnegie Institute corroborated the hypothesis that these were two merging galaxies.[6] This binary quasar, was at the time of discovery in 2010, the lowest redshift binary quasar then observed.[2]

Prior to this discovery, all quasars in merging binary pairs either involved one luminous quasar, and a second obscured or dark nucleus, or a spatially unresolved pair of active nuclei.[2]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Spatially Resolved Binary Quasar

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 NASA NED, "SDSS J1254+0846" (accessed 2013 January 16)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Green, Paul J.; Myers, Adam D.; Barkhouse, Wayne A.; Mulchaey, John S.; Bennert, Vardha N.; Cox, Thomas J.; Aldcroft, Thomas L.; Wrobel, Joan M.; "SDSS J1254+0846: A Binary Quasar Caught in the Act of Merging"; The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 710, Issue 2, pp. 1578-1588 (2010); February 2010; arXiv:1001.1738 ; Bibcode:2010ApJ...710.1578G ; doi:10.1088/0004-637X/710/2/1578 ;
  3. 1 2 Green, Paul J.; Myers, A. D.; Barkhouse, W. A.; Mulchaey, J. S.; Bennert, V. N.; Cox, T. J.; Aldcroft, T. L.; Wrobel, J. M.; "A Unique Merging Pair among Luminous Binary Quasars: SDSS J1254+0846"; American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #217, #310.04; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 43, 2011; January 2011; Bibcode:2011AAS...21731004G ;
  4. 1 2 Green, Paul; "SDSS J1254+0846"; CXC Newsletter, Issue 17, p.24; 2010; Bibcode:2010ChNew..17...24G
  5. ↑ Chandra X-Ray Observatory, "SDSS J1254+0846: Quasar Pair Captured in Galaxy Collision", 13 December 2010 (accessed 16 December 2013)
  6. 1 2 "Merging Galaxies Create a Binary Quasar". Carnegie Institution for Science. 4 February 2010. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
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