Quasar "CSO 1061"
In the constellation “Bootes”, at a distance of 11.2 billion light-years, we find the quasar “CSO 1061”, whose redshift is given as z= 2.66. Due to
the expansion of the universe, the current distance is actually 20.0 billion light-years. Every second it moves another 258,000 kilometers away from
us, i.e. at 86% of the speed of light.
From the apparent brightness and the known distance, the absolute magnitude can be determined as M= -26.3mag. Even at a distance of 32 light-years,
CSO 1061 would still shine as bright as our Sun in the daytime sky. The quasar has a luminosity of almost 3 trillion suns.
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The quasar is fairly easy to observe in my 20” Dobsonian at a magnification of 270x with averted vision and can be held permanently. There are many
brighter field stars in the vicinity, which make orientation much easier. I was also able to locate 2 smaller galaxies, which were also easily visible with
averted vision.
Anyone who would like to observe an extremely distant quasar will certainly find “CSO 1061” a rewarding object.
