Quasar RX J1131-1231

RX J1131-1231: A quasar located about 6 billion light years from Earth.

Multiple images of a distant quasar known as RX J1131-1231 are visible in this combined view from Chandra (pink) and Hubble (red, green, and blue). The Chandra data, along with data from ESA’s XMM-Newton, were used to directly measure the spin of the supermassive black hole powering this quasar. Black holes are defined by just two simple characteristics: mass and spin. At a distance of 6 billion light years, this is the most distant black hole where such a measurement has been made, allowing for an important advance in understanding how black holes grow over time.

Scale: Image is 1.2 arcmin across (about 1.6 million light years).

Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ of Michigan/R.C.Reis et al; Optical: NASA/STScI

Note: For more information, see RX J1131-1231: Chandra & XMM-Newton Provide Direct Measurement of Distant Black Hole's Spin.