VOA科学技术2023--Webb Telescope Observes Most Distant Black Hole

Webb Telescope Observes Most Distant Black Hole

Astronomers² say they have identified the most distant, active supermassive black hole ever observed.

The observation came from data collected by the James Webb Space Telescope, which the American space agency NASA operates.

Researchers said the newly discovered black hole is at the center of a galaxy³ called CEERS 1019. The galaxy is estimated to have existed about 570 million years after the Big Bang. The Big Bang is the explosion many scientists believe created the universe. Scientists estimate the Big Bang happened around 14 billion years ago and was followed by a period of intense development across the universe.

Steven Finkelstein is an astronomer¹ at the University of Texas at Austin who helped lead the research. He told The Associated Press that Webb has already observed other black holes that appear to be even closer to the Big Bang. But those findings are still being studied. The latest study results have been accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

The black hole was observed in February by imaging and data instruments built into the Webb. Researchers say it is on the smaller side, about 9 million times the mass of our sun. That is smaller than any black hole yet identified in the early universe, the team said.

Researchers say signals from the observed black hole are weak so more observations will be needed to confirm the findings.

Finkelstein said there are numerous non-active black holes, some of which are even more distant than the one observed. But without any observable gas, they cannot be identified.

The team also used the Webb to study two other small black holes from the early universe. These objects dated back to around 1 billion years after the Big Bang. The observations suggest these smaller black holes may have been more common as the universe began to develop.

"There are probably many more hidden little monsters out there waiting to be found," said Dale Kocevski. He was part of the research team, representing Colby College in Maine.

Launched in late 2021, NASA's Webb is the largest, most powerful telescope ever sent into space. Its first images and science results were released by NASA about one year ago.

The Webb is a large infrared⁴ telescope designed to gather more in-depth data and explore parts of space never observed before. The device collects infrared waves --electromagnetic energy that cannot be seen with the human eye. Infrared waves pass through gas and dust that can hide objects in space. The infrared system can also show light from more distant parts of the universe.

NASA recently celebrated⁵ the Webb's one-year anniversary by releasing a new image observed by the telescope. The image shows 50 baby stars in a cloud collection about 390 light-years from Earth. A light-year is 9.7 trillion kilometers.

The image shows an area of space that is full of bright hydrogen gases and dense⁶ collections of dust. All the young stars appear to be no bigger than our sun. Scientists said it is a good image of this brief period in a star's life.

NASA program scientist Eric Smith told the AP about the image: "It's like a glimpse of what our own system would have looked like billions of years ago when it was forming."

Words in This Story

supermassive – adj. used to describe something that has an extremely large mass

monster –n. a horrible imaginary creature

glimpse – n. to see something or someone for a very brief moment

1 astronomer   

n.天文学家

参考例句：

• A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
• He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。

2 astronomers   

n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

4 infrared   

adj./n.红外线(的)

参考例句：

• Infrared is widely used in industry and medical science.红外线广泛应用于工业和医学科学。
• Infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than those of visible light.红外辐射的波长比可见光的波长长。

5 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

6 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。