astronomy

PKS 1144−379

PKS 1144−379 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 1144−379 rather than just read about it. In short: PKS 1144−379 also known as PKS B1144−379, is a quasar located in the constellation of Centaurus. At the redshift of 1.048, the object is located nearly 8 billion light-years from Earth.

Key takeaways

PKS 1144−379 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 1144−379 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of PKS 1144−379 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

PKS 1144−379 also known as PKS B1144−379, is a quasar located in the constellation of Centaurus. At the redshift of 1.048, the object is located nearly 8 billion light-years from Earth.

Characteristics PKS 1144−379 is classified as a flat-spectrum radio quasar (FSRQ), brighter than S4.8 GHz=65 mJy. It has an active galactic nucleus with high optical polarization. As monitored at 13 cm and 6 cm by researchers over three years, which they found it as a star-like object, PKS 1144−379 has been identified as BL lac object of Mv ≈16.2, due to its variability in optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths. Such BL Lac objects like PKS 1144−379 are rare active galactic nuclei class, characterized by all frequencies, and absence of emission lines. PKS 1144−379 is also radio variable as observed in the Parkes 2700 MHz survey by researchers working at Parkes Observatory. The quasar is dominated by its bright compact radio core, but according to maps that is made with a high dynamic range, it shows an extended structure. PKS 1144−379 also has a luminosity above both FR I/FR II limit ~ 1032 erg s−1 Hz−1 at 5 GHz and such also classified as a blazar, a type of active galaxy that is producing radiation, observed at wavelengths from radio to gamma rays.

Observation of PKS 1144−379 PKS 1144−379 is known to be variable for its long and short-term flux density variability at centimeter wavelengths. Some of the first observations of PKS 1144−379 showed variability at frequencies of 5 GHz. The flux density is shown to increase from 0.9 Jy to 1.6 Jy between December 1970 and February, 1971. In September of the same year, it had increased again to 2.22 Jy. Between May and August 1994, the flux density of PKS 1144−379 at 4.8GHz dropped by 17%, and subsequently 9% at 8.6 GHz. In June 1996, PKS 1144−379 underwent optical variation again. Over the next 2.5 days, the survey data shows the quasar had a 33% change at 4.8 GHz. Subsequent data showed more variations in PKS 1144−379 with maximum of 8.6 GHz with over three hours of irregular change of 20%. This is strongly correlated with 10% change at 4.8 GHz. From the results studying the variability behavior of PKS 1144−379, researchers found the optical variation is 1.92 mag. This is smaller than those, ~ 3.5 mag in its infrared region. Using the Ceduna 30-m radio telescope at a frequency of 6.7 GHz and very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) data at 8.6 GHz at the University of Tasmania in Australia, researchers investigated the evolution of PKS 1144−379. They found the variability time-scales associated with two flares detected in PKS 1144−379 between November 2005 and August 2008 were found to derive from long-term variations in total flux density as monitored by Ceduna between 2003 and 2011. Moreover, a kinematic study of the parsec-scale jet of PKS 1144−379 was also performed through VLBI data obtained between 1997 and 2018, which they observe quasi-periodic flarings of ~3-4 yr. Over the 20-yr interval, they found the average jet position angle was ~150°. The core component of PKS 1144−379 is found to be compacted, which its angular size varied between the ranges of 5.65-15.90 Чas estimating to be 0.05-0.13 pc. Researchers assumed the variations observed in PKS 1144−379, are due to scintillation. The variations are 6.2 trillion K at 4.9 GHz with approximately 10% of total flux density found in the scintillating component. Given the results, PKS 1144−379 has a high modulation index in the range of 5–18% combined with the 1.2 day characteristic timescale (corresponding to a peak-to-peak period of 7.7 days), making it the most extreme bright scintillators identified in history. According to observations by Fermi, PKS 1144−379 has a column dissipation radius of 64.5 × 1015 cm (430) RS with an accretion disc luminosity of 1045 erg s−1 3 × (0.04) LEdd. The jet power as the form of radiation for the quasar has a log probability of 44.92 log Pr with Poynting flux of 44.49 log PB while the bulk motion of electrons and protons is found to be 44.34 log Pe and 46.41 log Pp. From the results, PKS 1144−379 has an estimated black hole mass of 108–109 M⊙, whom researchers noted.

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with PKS 1144−379

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what PKS 1144−379 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 1144−379 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 1144−379 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 1144−379

In research: PKS 1144−379 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 1144−379 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 1144−379 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Active galaxies, BL Lacertae objects, Blazars, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for PKS 1144−379 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.

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How to study PKS 1144−379 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what PKS 1144−379 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 1144−379 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is PKS 1144−379 in simple terms?

PKS 1144−379 also known as PKS B1144−379, is a quasar located in the constellation of Centaurus. At the redshift of 1.048, the object is located nearly 8 billion light-years from Earth.

Why does PKS 1144−379 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 1144−379?

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 1144−379.