{"id":121395,"date":"2020-06-25T11:00:16","date_gmt":"2020-06-25T21:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=121395"},"modified":"2020-06-26T09:49:48","modified_gmt":"2020-06-26T19:49:48","slug":"quasar-receives-hawaiian-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2020\/06\/25\/quasar-receives-hawaiian-name\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawaiian name given to massive quasar of early universe"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Formation
Artist impression of the formation of Pōniuāʻena<\/span>, starting with a seed black hole 100 million years after Big Bang (left), then growing into billion solar mass black hole 700 million years after Big Bang (right). Credit: International Gemini Observatory\/NOIRLab\/NSF\/AURA<\/abbr>\/P. Marenfeld<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ʻImiloa<\/span> Astronomy Center collaborated with 30 Hawaiian immersion kumu (teachers) to name another celestial discovery from the telescopes atop Maunakea. Researchers from three Maunakea Observatories; W.M. Keck Observatory, Gemini Observatory and University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>-owned United Kingdom Infrared Telescope are behind the remarkable discovery of Pōniuāʻena<\/span>, the most massive quasar known in the early universe.<\/p>\n

Quasars are the most energetic objects in the universe, powered by supermassive black holes. Pōniuāʻena<\/span> contains a monster black hole that challenges the current theories of supermassive black hole formation and growth in the early universe. The light seen from Pōniuāʻena<\/span> traveled through space for more than 13 billion years since leaving the quasar just 700 million years after the Big Bang.<\/p>\n

Pōniuāʻena<\/span>, which means “unseen spinning source of creation, surrounded by brilliance,” was developed using traditional Hawaiian naming practices. This is the fifth world-renowned astronomical discovery named by the ʻImiloa<\/span> program, A Hua He Inoa. UH<\/abbr> Hilo Ka Haka ʻUla<\/span> O Keʻelikōlani<\/span><\/a> Hawaiian language Professor Larry Kimura<\/strong> has guided the program to demonstrate how Hawaiian language or ʻōlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> is merging with scientific knowledge.<\/p>\n