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3C 446

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3C 446
Quasar 3C 446
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
ConstellationAquarius
Right ascension22h 25m 47.25s[1]
Declination−04° 57′ 01.39″[1]
Redshift1.404000[1]
Heliocentric radial velocity420,909 km/s[1]
Distance9.277 Gly
Apparent magnitude (B)18.83
Absolute magnitude (V)18.89
Characteristics
TypeOpt var; HPQ BLLAC[1]
Other designations
2MASSI J2225472−045701, 4C −05.92, Cul 2223−05, EPIC 206496452, 6dF J2225473− 045701, LEDA 2817740, G4Jy 1777, LHE 519, NRAO 0687, OY −039, PKS B2223−052, RX J2225.8−0457[1]

3C 446 is a quasar[2] located in the constellation of Aquarius. Its redshift is (z) 1.404,[1] originally believed to be located at (z) 2.065[3] and it was first discovered by astronomers in 1959.[4] It is also noted as variable since it had a decrease in optical brightness by around 0.5 magnitude when observed in October 1966.[5][6] It has been referred to as a blazar in addition.[7]

Description

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3C 446 is found to have a very compact radio structure. When observed in 1971, it has one unresolved component at 6 centimeters (cm) and a secondary smaller component that is revealed at 18 cm with evidence of a structure.[8] Imaging made with Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) showed it has a core-jet morphology with the radio core on milliarcsecond scales depicted as having a rising radio spectrum and a slight bent radio jet that is nonlinear before fading into the north–south component.[9] The structure of the jet has also been suggested as twisted, close to the line of sight.[10] Very Large Array (VLA), also described it as a BL Lacertae object with a small angular size.[11] The radio emission of the source is described as being compact and extended.[10] VLBI imaging at 100 GHz frequencies has found the core has an elongated appearance but mainly unresolved, with strong and weak components.[12]

The quasar is classified to be optically violent on the electromagnetic spectrum, making it an optically violent variable quasar (OVV).[13][14][15] When observed, it has shown at least one major flare in 1974.[16] A new active phase has been noted in 1983, where it brightened up with its emission lines disappearing.[13] Richard Miller also noted the 3C 446 has three large major outbursts during the past fifteen years. Miller also found it has a reddened appearance when its luminosity increased from V magnitude of 16.04, in mid-November 1979.[17] Radio flux has been shown as varying on longer wavelengths with an L flux decrease of 50 ± 8% between August and December.[18]

The host galaxy of 3C 446 has been suggested to be a merger of a few galaxies based on evidence of tidal features located north and east to west directions. A tidal arm is also found to be a part of the northern component. The nucleus is suggested to have merge with the quasar host galaxy.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "NED Search results for 3C 446". NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  2. ^ Jie, Tang (2024-07-01). "Nonlinear Characteristics of Radio Variability in Quasar 3C 446". Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics. 48 (3): 489–505. doi:10.1016/j.chinastron.2024.09.007. ISSN 0275-1062.
  3. ^ Burbidge, E. Margaret (November 1965). "Redshifts of the Quasi-Stellar Radio Sources 3c 334, 3c 345, 3c 380, and a Discussion of the Possible Redshift of 3c 446". The Astrophysical Journal. 142: 1674. Bibcode:1965ApJ...142.1674B. doi:10.1086/148459. ISSN 0004-637X.
  4. ^ Elsmore, B.; Ryle, M.; Leslie, P. R. R. (1959). "The positions, flux densities and angular diameters of 64 radio sources observed at a frequency of 178 Mc/s". Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society. 68: 61–67. Bibcode:1959MmRAS..68...61E.
  5. ^ Hunter, J. H.; Wesselink, A. J. (November 1966). "3C 446". Information Bulletin on Variable Stars. 165: 1. ISSN 0374-0676.
  6. ^ Cannon, R. D.; Penston, M. V. (April 1967). "Optical Variation of 3C 446". Nature. 214 (5085): 256–257. Bibcode:1967Natur.214..256C. doi:10.1038/214256a0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  7. ^ Brown, L. M. J.; Robson, E. I.; Gear, W. K.; Crosthwaite, R. P.; McHardy, I. M.; Hanson, C. G.; Geldzahler, B. J.; Webb, J. R. (1986-04-01). "The spectral shape and variability of the blazar 3C 446". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 219 (3): 671–686. doi:10.1093/mnras/219.3.671. ISSN 0035-8711.
  8. ^ Kellermann, K. I.; Jauncey, D. L.; Cohen, M. H.; Shaffer, B. B.; Clark, B. G.; Broderick, J.; Rönnäng, B.; Rydbeck, O. E. H.; Matveyenko, L.; Moiseyev, I.; Vitkevitch, V. V.; Cooper, B. F. C.; Batchelor, R. (October 1971). "High-Resolution Observations of Compact Radio Sources at 6 and 18 Centimeters". The Astrophysical Journal. 169: 1. Bibcode:1971ApJ...169....1K. doi:10.1086/151113. ISSN 0004-637X. Archived from the original on 2024-09-03.
  9. ^ Simon, R. S.; Johnston, K. J.; Spencer, J. H. (March 1985). "A 0.25-arcmin jet in the quasar 3C 446". The Astrophysical Journal. 290: 66. doi:10.1086/162959. ISSN 0004-637X. Archived from the original on 2024-09-02.
  10. ^ a b Punsly, Brian (April 1995). "The extended morphology of ultraluminous radio cores". The Astronomical Journal. 109: 1555. Bibcode:1995AJ....109.1555P. doi:10.1086/117385. ISSN 0004-6256. Archived from the original on 2023-12-02.
  11. ^ Ulvestad, J. S.; Johnston, K. J.; Weiler, K. W. (March 1983). "The arc second radio structure of 12 BL Lacertae objects". The Astrophysical Journal. 266: 18. Bibcode:1983ApJ...266...18U. doi:10.1086/160755. ISSN 0004-637X. Archived from the original on 2024-06-16.
  12. ^ Lerner, M. S.; Baath, L. B.; Inoue, M. (1993). "A 100 GHz map of 3C 446". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 280: 117. Bibcode:1993A&A...280..117L. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  13. ^ a b C., Barbieri; S., Cristiani; S., Omizzolo; G., Romano (January 1985). "The variable extragalactic object 3C 446". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 142: 316. Bibcode:1985A&A...142..316B. ISSN 0004-6361. Archived from the original on 2022-11-07.
  14. ^ Barbieri, C.; Cristiani, S.; Romano, G. (1984). "The Optical Variability of 3C 446". In Capaccioli, Massimo (ed.). Astronomy with Schmidt-Type Telescopes. Astrophysics and Space Science Library. Vol. 110. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. pp. 473–474. doi:10.1007/978-94-009-6387-0_81. ISBN 978-94-009-6387-0.
  15. ^ A., Stephens, S.; S., Miller, J. (September 1984). "Emission Line Variations in 3C 446". Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. 16: 1007. Bibcode:1984BAAS...16.1007S. Archived from the original on 2022-11-07.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ McGimsey, B. Q.; Smith, A. G.; Scott, R. L.; Leacock, R. J.; Edwards, P. L.; Hackney, R. L.; Hackney, K. R. (November 1975). "Optical behavior of 20 violently variable extragalactic radio sources". The Astronomical Journal. 80: 895. doi:10.1086/111825. ISSN 0004-6256. Archived from the original on 2022-04-24.
  17. ^ Miller, H. R. (March 1981). "The recent optical variability of 3C 446". The Astrophysical Journal. 244: 426. Bibcode:1981ApJ...244..426M. doi:10.1086/158718. ISSN 0004-637X.
  18. ^ Courvoisier, T. J.-L.; Bell-Burnell, J.; Blecha, A. (1986). "1986A&A...169...43C Page 43". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 169: 43. Bibcode:1986A&A...169...43C. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  19. ^ Vayner, Andrey; Wright, Shelley A.; Murray, Norman; Armus, Lee; Boehle, Anna; Cosens, Maren; Larkin, James E.; Mieda, Etsuko; Walth, Gregory (2021-03-01). "A Spatially Resolved Survey of Distant Quasar Host Galaxies. II. Photoionization and Kinematics of the ISM". The Astrophysical Journal. 910 (1): 44. arXiv:2101.08291. Bibcode:2021ApJ...910...44V. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/abddc1. ISSN 0004-637X.
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