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Triple quasar hints at violent past

Colliding galaxies in the early Universe produced dance of superbright objects.

Astronomers have found a new record-breaker: a triplet of quasars.

Read about it here.

Posted by Nicola Jones on January 9, 2007 05:21 PM |

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This is not even close to my area of research, so my question may appear rather amateurish. Would anyone explain why the quasars would not fall into each other or merge rather than shoot away from the center of the galaxy?

Posted by: L D D | January 10, 2007 02:31 PM

It is not a fact that they will kick each other out, this is a theory. In this case the theory is probably based on numerical simulations and these kinds of models are very often wrong. The best evidence that something like this does occur is not simulations, but rather the fact that QSOs are not often observed in multiple systems.
A good rule of thumb is, when something new is observed do not just trust the first theory that appears to explains it.

Posted by: mike | January 11, 2007 02:38 AM

LDD, yours is a commonsensical question. It should require no area of expertise to squeeze out an answer. Without further ado, do visit The Cosmos (http://www.shedali.co.uk/ses/TheCosmos.htm) for the complete answer. And do challenge this final model to the satisfaction of any university physics department head, alone, and collect US$25,000, which will be paid to the head beforehand! No joke; no scam; details in www.sittampalam.net. Cheers!

Posted by: Eugene Sittampalam | January 11, 2007 08:42 AM

So in this case the model predicts shooting out the quasars based on their current movements relative to each other, but in a more general case, is it considered possible for quasars to merge? I.e., would it be possible one of two (or more) quasars, the largest one in the pair or group, to suck in the others just like it would suck in a star?

Posted by: L D D | January 13, 2007 06:44 PM

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