Definition
QSO B0839+187 is a quasi‑stellar object (quasar) identified by its celestial coordinates in the B1950 epoch, situated in the constellation of Cancer. It is cataloged as a radio‑loud active galactic nucleus (AGN) in several astronomical surveys.
Overview
Quasars are extremely luminous nuclei of distant galaxies powered by accretion of material onto supermassive black holes. QSO B0839+187 was first reported in radio surveys that used the B1950 coordinate naming convention, where “B0839+187” denotes a right ascension of approximately 08 h 39 m and a declination of +18° 7′ (B1950). The object has been observed in the radio, optical, and X‑ray bands, confirming its nature as an AGN. Its redshift, precise optical magnitude, and detailed spectral properties are not consistently reported in the publicly available literature.
Etymology / Origin
- QSO: Acronym for “quasi‑stellar object,” a term introduced in the early 1960s to describe point‑like sources with stellar appearance but extragalactic redshifts.
- B0839+187: The designation follows the convention of the B1950 equatorial coordinate system; “08 h 39 m” indicates the right ascension, while “+18 7′” approximates the declination. The prefix “B” distinguishes it from the later J2000‑based naming scheme.
Characteristics
| Property | Reported / Typical Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Radio‑loud quasar (AGN) | Identified primarily via radio surveys. |
| Coordinates (B1950) | RA ≈ 08 h 39 m, Dec ≈ +18° 07′ | Converted to J2000: RA ≈ 08 h 41 m, Dec ≈ +18° 13′ (approximate). |
| Redshift (z) | Not definitively published | Some catalogs list a tentative redshift of z ≈ 0.5–1.0, but this is unconfirmed. |
| Optical magnitude | Not reliably measured | Photometric data are scarce; the object is faint in optical bands. |
| Radio flux density | Typically a few hundred mJy at 1.4 GHz | Based on detections in surveys such as the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) and the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty‑Centimeters (FIRST). |
| Spectral features | Broad emission lines (e.g., Lyα, C IV) in typical quasars | Specific spectra for QSO B0839+187 have not been published in peer‑reviewed journals. |
| Variability | Radio and optical variability expected | No detailed monitoring data are publicly available. |
Related Topics
- Quasi‑stellar objects (QSOs) – The broader class of luminous AGN with point‑like appearance.
- Radio‑loud AGN – Subset of quasars with strong radio emission, often exhibiting jets.
- B1950 coordinate system – Historical celestial coordinate framework used in early astronomical catalogs.
- Astronomical surveys – Projects such as the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS), the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty‑Centimeters (FIRST), and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) that identify and catalog quasars.
- Active galactic nucleus (AGN) taxonomy – Classification schemes for different types of AGN, including quasars, blazars, and Seyfert galaxies.
Accurate information is not confirmed for several specific parameters (e.g., exact redshift, precise optical magnitude) due to limited published data on this particular object. Further spectroscopic observations would be required to fully characterize QSO B0839+187.
