A Quasar Portrait Gallery
Explanation:
QUASARs (QUASi-stellAR objects)
lie near
the edge of the observable Universe.
Discovered in 1963,
astronomers were astounded that such objects could be
visible across billions of light-years, as this implies
they must emit prodigious
amounts of energy. Where does the energy come from?
Many believe
the quasar's central engine is a giant black hole
fueled by tremendous amounts of infalling gas, dust, and stars.
This gallery of quasar portraits from the Hubble Space
Telescope offers a look at their local neighborhoods: the quasars themselves
appear as the bright star-like objects with
diffraction spikes.
The images in the center and right hand columns reveal quasars
associated with disrupted colliding and merging galaxies
which should provide
plenty of debris to feed a hungry
black hole.
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.
