Archive · 14 Aug 2025
Scientists Image 'Eye of Sauron' Blazar Pointing to Earth
Scientists have captured an image of a blazar, PKS 1424+240, which looks like an eye in space.
A blazar is a galaxy with a giant black hole in the middle that shoots out powerful beams of energy.
This particular blazar has a jet of particles that is pointed directly at Earth.
Using special telescopes, scientists were able to create a detailed picture.
This jet's direction makes it seem much brighter than it normally would be.
This research helps explain why we can see so much energy coming from this far-off object.
The jet has a magnetic field shaped like a donut and is aimed straight at us, which increases its brightness.
Scientists captured an image of the blazar PKS 1424+240, which resembles an eye.
PKS 1424+240 is a blazar, a galaxy with a supermassive black hole at its center.
Blazars emit strong radiation and jets, and this one's jet points towards Earth.
The image was created using the Very Long Baseline Array, a system of radio telescopes.
The jet's alignment boosts its brightness, making it appear exceptionally bright.
- Who
- Scientists used the Very Long Baseline Array and Yuri Kovalev from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy was involved.
- What
- Scientists created an image of the blazar PKS 1424+240.
- When
- The findings were published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
- Where
- The blazar PKS 1424+240 is located billions of light-years away.
- Why
- The image was created to understand the extreme brightness of the blazar and its unusual jet.
- Object Name
- PKS 1424+240
- Object Type
- Blazar
- Key Feature
- Jet of particles pointed towards Earth
- Telescope System
- Very Long Baseline Array
- Published In
- Astronomy & Astrophysics