What is markarian 50?

Markarian 50 (Mrk 50) is an active galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. It is classified as a Seyfert galaxy, which means that it has a bright, compact nucleus that is thought to be powered by a supermassive black hole.

Mrk 50 has been studied extensively by astronomers because it shows interesting features that are not seen in other Seyfert galaxies. For example, it has a very broad emission line from ionized helium that is thought to be produced close to the black hole. It also exhibits rapid variations in its brightness over timescales of hours to weeks.

Recent observations of Mrk 50 with the Hubble Space Telescope and other instruments have provided new insights into the structure and properties of its accretion disk, which surrounds the black hole and emits much of the light that we observe. These observations have revealed asymmetries in the disk that are likely due to the black hole's rotation and magnetic fields.

Overall, Mrk 50 is an important object of study for astronomers who are trying to understand the physics of active galaxies and their central black holes.