*the value of the Hubble Constant [Ho] assumed 65km/s per Mpc so the age of the Universe ~15,000,000,000 years = 1c
Quasar APM 08279+5255 is gravitationally lensed and brightened x20 to mag15.2. It is just within range of the amateur spectrograph being still 10 times fainter than the brightest quasar 3C273 in Virgo. It is also six times more remote than 3C273 and its 'normal' spectrum is completely redshifted into infra-red and replaced [into the visible region] by the quasar's UV spectrum as shown below. The upper [professional] spectrum is compared to the lower spectrum obtained from WPO with the green lines linking points of reasonable correlation.
The WPO spectrum is broken into two segments. The 'deepest' point at ~592nm is the Lyman-alpha [Ly-a] absorption line from the quasar. The remaining 'trough' graded towards the left [blue shorter wavelengths] is caused by Ly-a absorption of intervening gas clouds immediately in front of the quasar and progressively less redshifted than the quasar itself. This absorption band is called the Lyman-a forest - at high resolution the individual spectral lines are recorded like a thicket. The brightest quasar feature is the emission line of ionised nitrogen [NV] at ~603nm - immediately right of the Ly-a forest. The Mg II [z1.18] absorption line is assumed to originate from the lensing galaxy at ~70% the distance of the quasar itself which is described as an ultraluminous BAL (Broad Absorption Line) quasar - 1998 ApJ 505, 529.
Below is the spectrum captured from WPO showing the break caused by the Ly-a forest. The local star Vega can no longer be used for direct comparison. The redshifted quasar spectrum originated in UV and UV cannot be recorded in Vega's spectrum from groundbased observations.
