This is an illustration of the expansion of the universe, from right to left. Expansion happened quickly after the Big Bang, and then its rate slowed until about 7 billion years ago. Dark energy pushed apart distant structures, and expansion has been accelerating again ever since. Scientists use quasars to measure this phenomenon.
Quasars light up the sky —
This is an illustration of the expansion of the universe, from right to left. Expansion happened quickly after the Big Bang, and then its rate slowed until about 7 billion years ago. Dark energy pushed apart distant structures, and expansion has been accelerating again ever since. Scientists use quasars to measure this phenomenon.
Paul Hooper at spirit-design.com/ Mat Pieri / Gongbo Zhao, IC
The BOSS experiment measures the distant universe using light from quasars, looking for imprints on hydrogen gas, as shown in this illustration.
Quasars light up the sky —
The BOSS experiment measures the distant universe using light from quasars, looking for imprints on hydrogen gas, as shown in this illustration.
Zosia Rostomian, LBNL / Andreu Font-Ribera, BOSS Lyman-alpha team, Berkeley Lab
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 infrared and monochrome images.
Quasars light up the sky —
This Hubble Telescope image of a quasar shows the phenomenon as infrared and monochrome images.
NASA