One of the many key features of this enigmatic galaxy is that it is home to the closest known quasar to Earth. The galaxy Markarian 231, the nearest quasar to Earth, as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope. The team believes that Markarian 231 has 100 times more oxygen compared to hydrogen found in the Orion Nebula. In a recent study published in the Astrophysical Journal, a team of astronomers from Shanghai led by Junzhi Wang discovered the molecular oxygen somewhere 581 million light-years away from the Milky Way particularly in Markarian 231. So it looks like we have a place to go when Earth’s air is full of coronavirus. The researchers of the discovery, published in The Astrophysical Journal, believe the presence of oxygen around the active core of this galaxy is important for two reasons. But while it is abundant on Earth, it has been difficult to find in space. Markarian 231, host galaxy of double black hole. This Hubble Space Telescope image reveals a bright starlike glow in the center of the interacting galaxy Markarian 231, the nearest quasar to Earth.
The galaxy Markarian 231 is the product of a merger between two galaxies. Markarian 231 (UGC 8058) is a Type-1 Seyfert galaxy that was discovered in 1969 as part of a search of galaxies with strong ultraviolet radiation. Located 600 million light-years away, we are seeing the galaxy as it looked before multicelled life first appeared on Earth. Astronomers have discovered the signatures of the ionized molecules OH+ and H2O+ in its massive outflow and argue that shock-induced cosmic rays are responsible for their ionization. The galaxy is the product of a merger between two galaxies. Markarian 231, or UGC 08058, is located about 600 million light-years away from Earth. Astronomers have now discovered the molecule’s signature emission from another galaxy in the quasar known as Markarian 231. In a research published in The Astrophysical Journal, they noted that it was discovered in the Markarian 231 galaxy, 561 million light-years from Earth.

Markarian 231, which was first discovered in 1969, is a very active galaxy, pumping out new stars at a rate of more than 100 masses per year. Astronomers have discovered the signatures of the ionized molecules OH+ and H2O+ in its massive outflow and argue that shock-induced cosmic rays are responsible for their ionization. It's powered by a central quasar – an extremely bright "galactic nucleus". It has long tidal tails and a disturbed shape. Molecular oxygen in the Markarian 231 galaxy discovered. Using NASA ’s Hubble Space Telescope, a team of astronomers discovered that Markarian 231 is powered by two central black holes furiously whirling about each other.Markarian 231 is the nearest galaxy to Earth that hosts a quasar, located 581 million light-years away. Markarian 231 was first discovered in 1969, and since then, it has made scientists all over the world curious. This image is part of a large collection of 59 images of merging galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and released on the occasion of its 18th anniversary on 24 April 2008. Markarian 231, also known as UGC 8058, is a Type-1 Seyfert galaxy located 600 million light-years away from Earth. Astronomers have now discovered the molecule’s signature emission from another galaxy in the quasar known as Markarian 231.
It contains the nearest known quasar, and in 2015 it was shown that the powerful active galactic nucleus present in the center of the galaxy may in fact be a supermassive binary black hole.It is located about 581 million light years away from Earth.