astronomy

PKS 1502+036

PKS 1502+036 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 1502+036 rather than just read about it. In short: PKS 1502+036 is a narrow-line Seyfert galaxy located in the constellation of Virgo. The redshift of the object has been estimated as (z) 0.408 and it was first discovered as a quasar with a flat radio spectrum by astronomers in 1997.

Key takeaways

PKS 1502+036 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 1502+036 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of PKS 1502+036 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

PKS 1502+036 is a narrow-line Seyfert galaxy located in the constellation of Virgo. The redshift of the object has been estimated as (z) 0.408 and it was first discovered as a quasar with a flat radio spectrum by astronomers in 1997. It is described as radio-loud.

Description PKS 1502+036 is shown to be a gamma-ray emitting object, with one powerful flare displayed in late 2015 after a long period of low-activity with a measured low flux of 4.5×10−8 photon cm−2 s−1. By the time the flare reached a daily peak flux on December 20, 2015, the source had an estimated flux of (237±71)×10−8 photon cm−2 s−1 on a three-hour timescale which in turn, corresponds to a measured isotropic luminosity of (7.3±2.1)×1047 erg s−1. No signs of spectral changes were accompanying the flare, although an increase in optical, ultraviolet and X-ray activity was noted for the object. During intra-night optical monitoring, the source displayed short-term optical variability between April 21 and May 11, 2018, with a brightness change of 0.1 magnitude. The source of PKS 1502+036 is classified as compact double. When imaged with Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) at 15 GHz, it has an extended radio structure indicative of a core-jet morphology, with radio emission being dominated by a compact radio core that is shown having low fractional polarization and a weak jet-like feature extending out by three milliarcseconds. A weak component with a separation of 3.05 milliarcseconds from its core, appears present in the source which was found undetected through previous observations. The radio spectrum of the source is classified as inverted. Near-infrared imaging obtained by Very Large Telescope, found PKS 1502+036 is an elliptical galaxy based on its surface brightness profile described by a combination of bulge and a nuclear component modelling. There is also a presence of an extended structure in a form of bright spots with position angles between 270 and 370 degrees indicative of galaxy mergers. On the other side of the galaxy center, a more dim extended bar-like structure is seen going from east-southeast to north direction. The supermassive black hole mass for the galaxy has been estimated as7×108 M☉ based on its near-infrared bulge luminosity. There is a close companion near the galaxy, however it isn't interacting with it.

References

External links PKS 1502+036 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images PKS 1502+036 on SIMBAD PKS 1502+036 on HyperLeda

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with PKS 1502+036

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what PKS 1502+036 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 1502+036 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 1502+036 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 1502+036

In research: PKS 1502+036 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 1502+036 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 1502+036 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Active galaxies, Astronomical objects discovered in 1997, Principal Galaxies Catalogue objects, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for PKS 1502+036 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 1502+036 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what PKS 1502+036 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 1502+036 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is PKS 1502+036 in simple terms?

Why does PKS 1502+036 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 1502+036?

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 1502+036.