The brightest and hungriest black hole ever has been spotted in the distant universe.
The hungriest black hole ever has been spotted (c) ESO/M. Kornmesser
Astronomers say that quasar JO529-4351 is powered by a black hole 17 billion times the size of the Sun and is devouring the universe at a rate equivalent to one Sun each day.
JO529-4351 was recorded in data several years ago but its true power has only recently been realised in observations by the Very Large Telescope in Chile.
Christian Wolf, from the Australian National University, told BBC News: "We have discovered an object which has previously not been recognised for what it is: it's been staring into our eyes for many years because it's been glowing at its brightness for longer than humankind has probably existed. But we've now recognised it, not as being one of the many foreground stars in our Milky Way but as a very distant object."