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100 Fascinating Facts About TON 618: The Largest Black Hole in the Universe

NASA illustration showing TON 618, the largest known black hole, with glowing red accretion disk and smaller black holes for scale comparison, against a grid background.

Illustration of the ultramassive black hole TON 618 (left), dwarfing other stellar-mass black holes (right), with accretion disks glowing in hot plasma. This NASA visualization highlights the immense scale of TON 618—the largest known black hole in the universe.

Updated on June 04, 2025 | By Jameswebb Discovery Editorial Team

TL;DR: Why TON 618 Will Blow Your Mind

TON 618 is the largest known black hole in the universe, a cosmic titan with a mass of 40 billion suns! Located 18.2 billion light-years away, this ultramassive black hole powers a hyperluminous quasar, shining brighter than 140 trillion suns. Its shadow is so vast that light would take weeks to cross it.

Could TON 618 hold secrets to the universe’s early formation or even challenge our understanding of physics? In this article, we uncover 100 fascinating facts about TON 618, from its discovery to its mind-bending properties. Dive into the mysteries of this celestial giant and explore the unknown!

Introduction

Black holes are among the most enigmatic objects in the cosmos, bending the very fabric of space-time with their immense gravity. Among these celestial giants, TON 618 stands out as the largest known black hole, a behemoth that defies comprehension. Located near the border of the constellations Canes Venatici and Coma Berenices, TON 618 powers a quasar so luminous it outshines entire galaxies.

With a mass estimated at 40 billion solar masses, TON 618 challenges our understanding of how black holes grow and raises questions about the early universe.

Table of Contents

What Is TON 618?
Discovery and Naming of TON 618
Physical Characteristics of TON 618
Scientific Insights and Theories
TON 618 in Space Exploration
Cultural Impact and Fun Facts
FAQs About TON 618
Conclusion

What Is TON 618?

TON 618 is considered the largest known black hole in the universe, with an estimated mass of 40 billion solar masses.
TON 618 is the active galactic nucleus (AGN) of a distant galaxy, classified as a hyperluminous, broad-absorption-line, radio-loud quasar.
Black holes exceeding 10 billion solar masses are called ultramassive; TON 618 exemplifies this.
TON 618 lies approximately 18.2 billion light-years from Earth.
The light we see from TON 618 left about 10.8 billion years ago due to its redshift of 2.219.
Positioned near the constellations Canes Venatici and Coma Berenices.
Surrounded by a massive Lyman-alpha nebula, 330,000 light-years across—twice the Milky Way’s size.
The quasar’s brightness outshines its host galaxy, making the galaxy invisible from Earth.
TON 618 has an absolute magnitude of -30.7, ranking it among the brightest objects in the universe.
Luminosity is estimated at 4×10⁴⁰ watts, or 140 trillion times the Sun’s brightness.

Discovery and Naming of TON 618

First observed in 1957 at Tonantzintla Observatory, Mexico.
Named “TON 618” after entry number 618 in the Tonantzintla Catalogue.
Initially misidentified as a faint blue star or white dwarf.
Reclassified as a quasar in the 1960s after quasars were first identified in 1963.
Confirmed as being powered by a supermassive black hole.
Observed using a 0.7 m Schmidt telescope.
Redshift of 2.219 confirms its immense distance and age.
Recognized as a Lyman-alpha emitter since the 1980s.
Studied by Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Apache Point Observatory, and others.
Discovery came during a time when quasars and black holes were just being scientifically understood.

Physical Characteristics of TON 618

Mass is estimated at 40 billion solar masses (some studies say 66 billion).
Greater than the combined mass of all stars in the Milky Way (~64 billion solar masses).
Schwarzschild radius (event horizon) is about 1,300 AU (195 billion km).
Light would take weeks to cross its shadow.
Diameter is 30–40 times the width of our solar system (~1,000 AU).
Surrounded by an accretion disk of hot gas fueling its luminosity.
Features a broad-line region emitting spectral lines.
Gas in this region moves at speeds up to 10,500 km/s.
2019 study revised mass to 40.7 billion solar masses using C IV line.
Emits Lyman-alpha radiation by exciting hydrogen.
Lyman-alpha nebula has two parts: inner molecular outflow and outer cold gas (50 billion solar masses each).
Produces a radio jet, a trait of radio-loud quasars.
Gas temperatures near the accretion disk reach millions of degrees Kelvin.
Density is lower than smaller black holes, despite the immense mass.
Spin is unknown but may affect future growth.
Light crossing the event horizon is permanently trapped.
Causes gravitational lensing, bending background light.
Often visually represented in blue hues.
Accretion disk generates magnetic fields driving jets.
Has exceeded the Eddington limit, which normally restricts black hole growth.

Scientific Insights and Theories

Existed just 2.9 billion years after the Big Bang—puzzling scientists.
May have originated as a primordial black hole.
Or possibly formed by direct gas cloud collapse into a massive seed black hole.
Likely grew through galaxy mergers.
Accreted matter over billions of years.
Mass estimated using the Hβ spectral line.
C IV line refined this to a more accurate 40.7 billion solar masses.
Theoretical upper limit for black holes is 270 billion solar masses.
Growth limited by self-gravitational radius.
Accretion slows due to radiation pressure.
15,300 times more massive than Sagittarius A*, the Milky Way’s black hole.
Lyman-alpha blob suggests influence on host galaxy evolution.
Output is 100 times higher than typical quasars.
Suggests ultramassive black holes shape galaxy formation.
Hypothesized that SLABs like TON 618 might relate to dark matter.
Future mergers could produce detectable gravitational waves.
Matter near it experiences spaghettification from tidal forces.
Extreme time dilation occurs near its event horizon.
Active Galactic Nucleus means it’s actively feeding.
May continue growing, testing current cosmic models.

TON 618 in Space Exploration

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) may observe its obscured host galaxy.
Hubble confirmed the existence of many SMBHs like TON 618.
Sloan Digital Sky Survey provided imaging and redshift confirmation.
Too far for Event Horizon Telescope to image, but EHT’s techniques could help.
Chandra X-ray Observatory may reveal high-energy activity.
Proposed telescopes like Lynx could explore its environment.
TON 618 bends light through gravitational lensing—a study subject for JWST.
Advanced spectroscopy might further analyze its emissions.
VLA could probe its radio jet.
Observations require global collaboration (e.g., ESA, Apache Point).
Observation is difficult due to brightness and distance.
Redshift confirms TON 618’s primordial nature.
JWST’s NIRCam may detect the host galaxy’s structure.
X-ray studies might unveil feeding processes.
Simulations help test black hole growth models.
Public data is accessible via NASA’s HEASARC.
Inspires educational programs in cosmology.
Citizen science initiatives may include it (e.g., Galaxy Zoo).
New telescopes like ELT may explore its surroundings further.
AI models can analyze emission patterns and simulate black hole physics.

Cultural Impact and Fun Facts

Popular on X (Twitter) for comparison posts and visualizations.
Has inspired sci-fi stories and speculative fiction.
Featured in NASA’s black hole animation videos.
Astronomy clubs love discussing its scale and luminosity.
Artists create visualizations using NASA data and color mappings.
Featured in video games like Elite Dangerous.
“TON 618 facts” trends during black hole-related events.
If placed in the Sun’s position, its event horizon would reach beyond Pluto.
Symbolizes the unknown limits of human knowledge.
Apps like Stellarium can show its location (though not visible to amateurs).
Inspires merchandise like posters and T-shirts.
Mentioned in science documentaries like Cosmos.
Used in classrooms to teach light, gravity, and mass.
Popular in public lectures about space.
Debated in Reddit forums such as r/space.
A challenge for astrophotographers to even attempt observing its region.
Compared to Phoenix A, though TON 618 remains more studied.
Part of the broader history of black hole discovery.
Continues to inspire future generations of astronomers.
TON 618 represents the awe-inspiring scale of the cosmos.

FAQs About TON 618

Q: What is TON 618?
A: TON 618 is a hyperluminous quasar powered by the largest known black hole, with a mass of 40 billion solar masses, located 18.2 billion light-years away.

Q: How was TON 618 discovered?
A: It was first observed in 1957 at the Tonantzintla Observatory in Mexico, initially mistaken for a blue star, and later identified as a quasar in the 1960s.

Q: How big is TON 618 compared to the Sun?
A: TON 618’s mass is 40 billion times that of the Sun, and its Schwarzschild radius is over 1,000 AU, dwarfing the solar system.

Q: Could TON 618 affect Earth?
A: No, TON 618 is too far (18.2 billion light-years) to impact Earth, and its gravity doesn’t influence our galaxy.

Q: Why is TON 618 important for science?
A: TON 618 provides insights into black hole formation, galaxy evolution, and the early universe, challenging existing theories of cosmic growth.

100 Fascinating Facts About Black Holes

Conclusion

TON 618, the largest known black hole, is a cosmic marvel that stretches the limits of our imagination and scientific understanding. From its discovery in 1957 to its role in modern astrophysics, these 100 fascinating facts reveal its significance as a window into the early universe and a challenge to our theories of black hole growth.

As we continue to explore the cosmos with telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope, TON 618 remains a beacon of mystery and wonder. Dive deeper into the universe’s secrets on James Webb Discovery.