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Discovery of the most luminous quasar of the last 9 Gyr

  • Christopher A. Onken*
  • , Samuel Lai
  • , Christian Wolf
  • , Adrian B. Lucy
  • , Wei Jeat Hon
  • , Patrick Tisserand
  • , Jennifer L. Sokoloski
  • , Gerardo J.M. Luna
  • , Rajeev Manick
  • , Xiaohui Fan
  • , Fuyan Bian
  • *Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    6 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We report the discovery of a bright (mag (AB), mag (Vega)) quasar at redshift-the optically brightest (unbeamed) quasar at 0.4$[]>. SMSS J114447.77-430859.3, at a Galactic latitude of, was identified by its optical colours from the SkyMapper Southern Survey (SMSS) during a search for symbiotic binary stars. Optical and near-infrared spectroscopy reveals broad Mg ii, H, H, and Pa emission lines, from which we measure a black hole mass of. With its high luminosity, or mag (AB), we estimate an Eddington ratio of. As the most luminous quasar known over the last 9 Gyr of cosmic history, having a luminosity greater than 3C 273, the source offers a range of potential follow-up opportunities.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere037
    JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
    Volume39
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 12 Sept 2022

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