quasars
Distant galactic beacons
Quasars are extremely luminous objects at the centers of distant galaxies, powered by supermassive black holes consuming surrounding matter.
They are among the brightest and most distant objects observable in the universe, emitting more energy than entire galaxies.
The name comes from "quasi-stellar radio source," since early observations mistook them for stars: The quasar's light traveled billions of years to reach us.
Collapsed star's remnant
- supermassiveExtremely large in scale
- redshiftWavelength stretch from recession
- cosmologyStudy of universal structure
- astrophysicsPhysics of celestial bodies
spectroscopy · extragalactic · cosmic · universe · intergalactic · megaparsec · light-year · observatory
Instrument magnifying faraway objects
- radio telescopeAstronomical receiver for cosmic waves
- interferometryMeasurement using wave combination patterns
- spectrometryMeasuring radiation to identify substances
- antennaBroadcast signal receiver
array · detector · resolution · sensitivity · imaging · survey · calibration · Hubble
Emitting or reflecting light
- blazingBurning very brightly
- outshiningSurpassing in brilliance
- brilliantIntensely bright or gifted
- radiantEmitting light or joy
beacon · flaring · dazzling · brightest · light-emitting · incandescent · glowing · intense
Wavelength stretch from recession
- light-yearsUnits of astronomical distance
- cosmologicalRelating to universe's origin/structure
- remoteDistant or controller
- farawayAt great distance
extragalactic · deep-space · observable universe · horizon · expansion · space-time
Mid-twentieth century date
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- puzzleChallenge testing ingenuity
- unprecedentedNever having occurred before
black hole
Collapsed star's remnant
- supermassiveExtremely large in scale
- redshiftWavelength stretch from recession
- cosmologyStudy of universal structure
astrophysics · spectroscopy · extragalactic · cosmic · universe · intergalactic · megaparsec · light-year · observatory · telescope
telescope
Instrument magnifying faraway objects
- radio telescopeAstronomical receiver for cosmic waves
- interferometryMeasurement using wave combination patterns
- spectrometryMeasuring radiation to identify substances
antenna · array · detector · resolution · sensitivity · imaging · survey · calibration · Hubble · James Webb
luminous
Emitting or reflecting light
- blazingBurning very brightly
- outshiningSurpassing in brilliance
- brilliantIntensely bright or gifted
radiant · beacon · flaring · dazzling · brightest · light-emitting · incandescent · glowing · intense · powerful
redshift
Wavelength stretch from recession
- light-yearsUnits of astronomical distance
- cosmologicalRelating to universe's origin/structure
- remoteDistant or controller
faraway · extragalactic · deep-space · observable universe · horizon · expansion · space-time
1963
Mid-twentieth century date
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- puzzleChallenge testing ingenuity
unprecedented · anomalous · catalog · identification · breakthrough
- astronomystars, moon, sun, planet, planets
- cosmosuniverse, galaxies, galaxy, stars, star
- night skystars, moon, constellations, shooting stars, constellation
- spacespace, sun, moon, stars, star
- Celestial Objectsstars, planets, moons, comets, galaxies
- cosmic objectsstars, galaxies, nebulae, pulsars, black holes