Astronomers Discover Largest Radio Jet in the Early Universe

The 200,000-light-year jet, powered by a quasar, offers new insights into galaxy evolution and early cosmic phenomena.

The radio jet, spanning 200,000 light-years, was discovered in a quasar named J1601+3102, dating back to when the universe was only 1.2 billion years old.
This is the largest radio jet ever identified in the early universe, at least twice the width of the Milky Way galaxy.
The discovery was made using the LOFAR Telescope, with follow-up observations conducted via the Gemini North and Hobby Eberly telescopes.
The quasar's black hole is relatively small, at 450 million times the Sun's mass, suggesting massive jets can form without extremely large black holes.
The findings help scientists understand the formation of the first radio jets and their role in the evolution of galaxies during the universe's early stages.