Sensitively viewing the whole sky, NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) has discovered the most luminous galaxy found till date, shining with the luminosity of more than 300 trillion suns.

A report appearing in the May 22 issue of The Astrophysical Journal states that this brilliant galaxy, known as WISE J224607.57-052635.0, might have a resident black hole in its core which is responsible for emitting high-energy, visible, and ultraviolet and X-ray light, which are converted to an infrared beam by the surrounding dust.

The remote galaxy belongs to a new class of objects called extremely luminous infrared galaxies, (ELIRGs). This study reports a total of 20 new ELIRGs. It is explained that these galaxies were not sighted before because of the great distance, and also because of the conversion of their powerful visible light into dazzling flurry of infrared light by the surrounding dust.

Chao-Wei Tsai, researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, and the lead author of a new report, stated, “We are looking at a very intense phase of galaxy evolution This dazzling light may be from the main growth spurt of the galaxy's black hole”.

Three reasons have been cited to account for the massive size of the black holes inhabiting the ELIRGs galaxies. Firstly, it is contented that the embryonic black hole were itself big enough resulting in gigantic forms later on.

Second reason explains that if a black hole breaks its theoretical limit, called the Eddington limit, it would consequently bloat and increase in size at electrifying pace.

Thirdly, a Black hole might bend the Eddington limit, spinning slowly enough and gobbling up more matter than a fast spinner.

Andrew Blain, University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, and a co-author of this report, commented, “The massive black holes in ELIRGs could be gorging themselves on more matter for a longer period of time. It’s like winning a hot-dog-eating contest lasting hundreds of millions of years”.