astronomy

PKS 0346−27

PKS 0346−27 is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand PKS 0346−27 rather than just read about it. In short: PKS 0346−27 is a blazar located in the constellation of Fornax. Its redshift is (z) 0.991 and as such lies at a distance of 7.8 billion light-years from Earth.

Key takeaways

PKS 0346−27 belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect PKS 0346−27 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of PKS 0346−27 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

PKS 0346−27 is a blazar located in the constellation of Fornax. Its redshift is (z) 0.991 and as such lies at a distance of 7.8 billion light-years from Earth. This object is also classified as a flat-spectrum radio quasar with its radio spectrum seeming to appear flat with its radio source being first identified in 1966 by astronomers.

Description PKS 0346−27 is highly active on the electromagnetic spectrum in terms of emission of gamma-rays, although it can be categorized as a Low-Synchrotron-Peaked Blazar during its quiescent period because of the low spectral energy distribution peak. On February 2, 2018, it was shown to be in a high-flux state with its gamma-ray flux reaching levels of 1.0 ± 0.2 × 10−6 photons cm−2 s-1 upon detection by Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The next time the object displayed immense activity, was on April 24, 2019, where it reached a new historic high gamma-ray flux level of 3.2 ± 0.3 × 10−6 photons cm−2 s−1. Subsequently, it displayed more renewed activity recorded in February 2020 and on November 24, 2021. An optical flare was also observed, in addition to gamma-rays where the object brightened in brightness. Because of its powerful activity, PKS 0346−27 has been studied in detail. Data from a multiwavelength temporal and spectral study showed the object had multiple flaring episodes based on its gamma-ray light curve analysis from data collected over more than 2 years, with its minimum variability time estimated as 1.34 ± 0.3 days, indicating the source of PKS 0346−27 is compact. Astronomers also suggested the variability of the flares were caused by emission region interactions through stationary shock waves. It is suggested PKS 0346−27 is a very-high energy emitter. Based on results, it underwent significant flaring activity on November 2, 2021, with a daily flux level of 1.8 ± 0.2 × 10−6 photons cm−2 s−1, an increase of 200 folds since its average flux measured by fourth Fermi-LAT catalogue. The spectral index of the object measured by High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) was shown to have a soft index with a unit greater than four. A quasi-periodic oscillation was detected in PKS 0346−27 during the observations conducted between December 2018 and January 2022. Results showed the periodicity is 100 days long and was likely caused by enhanced radio emission travelling in a helical direction inside a curved radio jet. The supermassive black hole mass was found to be 9.48 × 109 M☉.

References

External links PKS 0346−27 on SIMBAD

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with PKS 0346−27

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what PKS 0346−27 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to PKS 0346−27 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about PKS 0346−27 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of PKS 0346−27

In research: PKS 0346−27 appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses PKS 0346−27 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: PKS 0346−27 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Active galaxies, Astronomical objects discovered in 1966, Blazars, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for PKS 0346−27 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “PKS 0346−27” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study PKS 0346−27 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what PKS 0346−27 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain PKS 0346−27 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is PKS 0346−27 in simple terms?

PKS 0346−27 is a blazar located in the constellation of Fornax. Its redshift is (z) 0.991 and as such lies at a distance of 7.8 billion light-years from Earth.

Why does PKS 0346−27 matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study PKS 0346−27?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on PKS 0346−27.