An international team of astronomers used the state-of-the-art capability of VERA, a Japanese network of radio telescopes operated by NAOJ, to uncover valuable clues about how rapidly growing “young” supermassive black holes form, grow, and possibly evolve into more powerful quasars.
A research group including Tomoya Hirota, associate professor of Mizusawa VLBI Observatory (NAOJ, Ibaraki University, and NARIT), successfully detected Zeeman splitting in 6.7 GHz class II methanol masers using the Hitachi 32-m radio telescope in the Ibaraki station of NAOJ operated by Ibaraki University. Among the 103 sources with sufficiently bright maser emissions, the team detected Zeeman splitting in 62 sources, including 38 new detections.
It has been announced that Professor Mareki Honma will receive the Medal with Purple Ribbon in the Autumn 2026 Honors.
Commenting on the honor, Professor Honma says,:
“Receiving this award is a tremendous honor as a researcher and a source of immense personal joy. The research recognized by this award was carried out through the cooperation of many collaborators. I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again to the staff of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, my colleagues around the world, and everyone who has supported me throughout my career. Encouraged by this recognition, I will continue to devote myself to my research.”