3C 446

3C 446
Quasar 3C 446
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
ConstellationAquarius
Right ascension22h 25m 47.25s
Declination−04° 57′ 01.39″
Redshift1.404000
Heliocentric radial velocity420,909 km/s
Distance9.277 Gly
Apparent magnitude (B)18.83
Absolute magnitude (V)18.89
Characteristics
TypeOpt var; HPQ BLLAC
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

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

Description

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. 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. The structure of the jet has also been suggested as twisted, close to the line of sight. Very Large Array (VLA), also described it as a BL Lacertae object with a small angular size. The radio emission of the source is described as being compact and extended. VLBI imaging at 100 GHz frequencies has found the core has an elongated appearance but mainly unresolved, with strong and weak components.

The quasar is classified to be optically violent on the electromagnetic spectrum, making it an optically violent variable quasar (OVV). When observed, it has shown at least one major flare in 1974. A new active phase has been noted in 1983, where it brightened up with its emission lines disappearing. 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. Radio flux has been shown as varying on longer wavelengths with an L flux decrease of 50 ± 8% between August and December.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. ↑ Stephens, S. A.; Miller, J. S. (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.
  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.