Observation by John Coffin: Quasar 3C 273

Uploaded by

John Coffin

Observer

John Coffin

Observed

2019 Apr 10 - 23:30

Uploaded

2019 Apr 26 - 18:26

Objects

Spectrum

Equipment

Alpy 600 spectrometer
Atik 460 EX
Celestron 8 Edge HD with 0.7 x reducer
AZ-EQ6
Lodestar Guide Camera

Location

Essex

Target name

3C 273

Title

Quasar 3C 273

About this image

The spectrum of the quasar was collected with 6 x 600 second exposures and processed in ISIS. It was exciting to be able to capture the spectrum of one of the most distant objects an amateur astronomer is ever likely to observe. The redshift is z = 0.158 when the H beta (5627 A), gamma (5026 A) and delta (4750 A) are measured and 0.156 when H alpha is measured (at 7587 A). I suspect the Alpy calibration is not accurate at 7587 A.

I calculated the distance of this object using Ned Wright's cosmology calculator and the comoving distance is 2.13 x 10^9 light years. I discovered there are at least four different ways of measuring distance, the comoving distance tells us how far away the galaxy is now, adjusting for the expansion of spacetime and assuming a 'flat' model of the universe. Anyway, it's a long way!

Files associated with this observation

3c273_20190410_958_ (2)J.Coffin.png (55.8 kB)

Like this image

David Basey, Jeremy Shears, Ray Emery, Andy Wilson, Miguel Araújo, john simpson, Robert Ian Henderson, Peter Mulligan, Graham Winstanley, Andrew Dumbleton

Comments

Andy Wilson, 2019 Apr 28 - 14:49 UTC

Hi John,

That is a great spectrum of a faint target. It is interesting to see how far equipment can be pushed and you achieved a very nice signal in your hour long integration. The broad emission lines showing up very clearly.

Andy

Copyright of all images and other observations submitted to the BAA remains with the owner of the work. Reproduction of work by third parties is expressly forbidden without the consent of the copyright holder. By submitting images to this online gallery, you grant the BAA permission to reproduce them in any of our publications.

Registered charity no. 210769
Registered company no. 117572

For more information including contact details, click here.

Our Terms of Use are here.

Our Privacy Policy is here.