| HCM-6A | |
|---|---|
 The composite image on the left shows one of the largest blobs observed in this study. Glowing hydrogen gas in the blob is shown by a Lyman-alpha optical image (colored yellow) from the National Astronomy Observatory of Japan's Subaru telescope. A galaxy located in the blob is visible in a broadband optical image (white) from the Hubble Space Telescope and an infrared image from the Spitzer Space Telescope (red). Finally, the Chandra X-ray Observatory image in blue shows evidence for a growing supermassive black hole in the center of the galaxy. Radiation and outflows from this active black hole are powerful enough to light up and heat the gas in the blob. Radiation and winds from rapid star formation occurring in the galaxy is believed to have similar effects. Clear evidence for four other active black holes in blobs is also seen. | |
| Observation data (J2000epoch) | |
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Right ascension | 02h 39m 54.7s |
| Declination | −01° 33′ 32″ |
| Redshift | 6.56 |
| Distance | 12.8 billion light years (4.0 billion parsecs) (light travel distance) 28.2 billion light years (8.6 billion parsecs) (comoving distance) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 24.24 |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | LAE |
| Other designations | |
| HCB2010 J023954-013332 | |
HCM-6A is anLAEgalaxy that was found in 2002 byEsther Hu andLennox Cowie from theUniversity of Hawaii and Richard McMahon from theUniversity of Cambridge, using theKeck II Telescope inHawaii. HCM-6A is located behind theAbell 370 galactic cluster, nearM77[1] in the constellationCetus, which enabled the astronomers to use Abell 370 as agravitational lens to get a clearer image of the object.[2][3]
HCM-6A was the farthest object known at the time of its discovery. It exceededSSA22−HCM1 (z = 5.74) as the most distant normal galaxy known, and quasarSDSSp J103027.10+052455.0 (z = 6.28) as the most distant object known. In 2003,SDF J132418.3+271455 (z = 6.578) was discovered, and took over the title of most remote object known, most remote galaxy known, and most remote normal galaxy known.
| Preceded by | Most distant astronomical object 2002 — 2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by SSA22−HCM1 | Most distant galaxy 2002 — 2003 | Succeeded by |
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