Quasar in an Elliptical Galaxy
Explanation:
Where do quasars live?
Quasars
are the brightest objects in the universe,
so bright they can be seen from across the universe.
Observations continue to show that most
quasars are
surrounded by a relatively faint nebulous patch.
Astronomers are trying to identify the
nature of these
patches. The
above false-color picture shows a central quasar embedded in an unusual
elliptical galaxy.
The galaxy is being
gravitationally distorted
by a neighboring galaxy.
Recent evidence indicates that most
quasars live near the centers of large,
elliptical galaxies - even those
quasars where no host galaxy could be found before.
Quasars themselves are thought to result from matter falling toward
supermassive black-holes.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
