3C 279
3C 279 is a blazar: a black-hole jet pointed at Earth in the constellation Virgo, about 5 billion light-years (z = 0.536) from Earth.
A quasar whose jet points almost straight at us, making it one of the brightest gamma-ray sources in the sky. In June 2015 NASA's Fermi telescope recorded a record-breaking gamma-ray flare from it.
Facts
| Type | Blazar: a black-hole jet pointed at Earth |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Position (J2000) | 12h 56m 11s, −5° 47′ |
| Distance | 5 billion light-years (z = 0.536) |
When and how to see it
3C 279 is highest in the sky at midnight in April. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 64° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 34°.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Virgo
- M49 (NGC 4472)
- M58 (NGC 4579)
- M59 (NGC 4621)
- M60 (NGC 4649)
- M61 (NGC 4303)
- M84 (NGC 4374)
- M86 (NGC 4406)
- M87* (Messier 87)
Everything in Virgo · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: · Deep Sky Monitor's own notes · Data sources & credits