Some of the most breathtaking images in the night sky come from quasars. This artist's rendering displays the quasar's luminance, which is brighter than a billion suns. The beam is matter being shot into space.
Quasars light up the sky —
Some of the most breathtaking images in the night sky come from quasars. This artist's rendering displays the quasar's luminance, which is brighter than a billion suns. The beam is matter being shot into space.
ESO/M. Kornmesser
Quasars get their energy from the massive amounts of matter being crushed by the black hole in their center.
Quasars light up the sky —
Quasars get their energy from the massive amounts of matter being crushed by the black hole in their center.
ESO/M. Kornmesser
An image of a quasar is seen through a telescope.
Quasars light up the sky —
An image of a quasar is seen through a telescope.
ESO
This Hubble Telescope image of a quasar shows the phenomenon as an infrared and monochrome image.
Quasars light up the sky —
This Hubble Telescope image of a quasar shows the phenomenon as an infrared and monochrome image.
NASA
Maarten Schmidt, pictured in the 1960s, discovered quasars and revealed the discovery to the public in 1963.
Finding quasars —
Maarten Schmidt, pictured in the 1960s, discovered quasars and revealed the discovery to the public in 1963.
California Institute of Technology
The Palomar Observatory in Southern California is the site of the telescope Schmidt used for his work.
Finding quasars —
The Palomar Observatory in Southern California is the site of the telescope Schmidt used for his work.
California Institute of Technology
At 84, Maarten Schmidt he still gazes out many billions of light years into the universe to find new quasars.
Finding quasars —
At 84, Maarten Schmidt he still gazes out many billions of light years into the universe to find new quasars.
Cal Tech/Bob Paz