Quasar-galaxy pairs
type: Concept
broader: Quasars

Quasars
type: Concept
contributor: AAS Frey.Katie Admin
modified: 2020-11-03T21:01:18.903Z
modified: 2020-12-16T19:20:23.826Z
alternative label: Quasi-stellar object
alternative label: QSO
alternative label: Quasi-stellar radio sources
alternative label: Quasi-stellar galaxies
broader: Active galactic nuclei
broader: Supermassive black holes
definition: An compact, extragalactic object which is highly luminous and looks like a star. Their redshifts can be large and their brightness varies. Quasars have an intrinsic luminosity which can reach some 100 times that of bright galaxies. They are thought to be active galactic nuclei with a size a little larger than the solar system. The first quasar to be identified as such, in 1963, was the radio source 3C 273 at a redshift of 0.158. With its 13th magnitude, it is the optically brightest quasar as observed from Earth. Some quasars are strong radio sources.
narrower: Quasar-galaxy pairs
narrower: Broad-absorption line quasar
narrower: X-ray quasars
narrower: Radio loud quasars
narrower: Double quasars
narrower: Radio quiet quasars
related: Radio sources

Radio loud quasars
type: Concept
broader: Quasars

Radio quiet quasars
type: Concept
broader: Quasars

Radio sources
type: Concept
related: Quasars

Active galactic nuclei
type: Concept
narrower: Quasars

Supermassive black holes
type: Concept
narrower: Quasars

X-ray quasars
type: Concept
broader: Quasars

Broad-absorption line quasar
type: Concept
broader: Quasars

Double quasars
type: Concept
broader: Quasars