Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

Astronomers have found the most luminous object ever observed in the universe, a quasar that surpasses all others in brightness.

Details:

Aspect	Details
Discovery	The brightest object ever observed in the universe, identified as a quasar.
Observation Tool	European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT).
Quasar Name	J0529-4351
Brightness	Over 500 trillion times brighter than the sun.
Growth Rate	Growing at a rate equivalent to one sun per day.
Mass	Equivalent to 17 billion suns.
Distance from Earth	Light has taken over 12 billion years to reach Earth.
Accretion Disc	Measures seven light-years in diameter, the largest known accretion disc in the universe.
Initial Recognition	Visible since 1980, but only recently confirmed as a quasar due to its extreme brightness.
Significance	Provides insights into the early universe, black holes, and galaxy formation.

Quasar

Quasars, short for “Quasi-Stellar Radio Sources”, were first discovered six decades ago.
They are located in supermassive black holes, which sit in the center of galaxies.
As a supermassive black hole feed on gas and dust, it releases extraordinary amounts of energy in the form of radiation, resulting in a quasar.

Object	Description	Key Characteristics
Quasars	Extremely bright and distant objects powered by supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies.	Highly luminous, often outshine entire galaxies, significant redshift, rapid growth.
Blazars	A type of quasar with its relativistic jet pointed directly at Earth, making it appear extremely bright.	Variable brightness, strong radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, rapid variability.
Radio Galaxies	Galaxies with active supermassive black holes that emit large amounts of radio waves.	Significant radio emissions, often have large lobes of radio emission extending far beyond the galaxy.
Pulsars	Highly magnetized, rotating neutron stars emitting beams of electromagnetic radiation.	Periodic pulses of radiation, very regular intervals, strong magnetic fields.
Stars	Celestial bodies composed primarily of hydrogen and helium undergoing nuclear fusion.	Range in size and brightness, steady light emission, characterized by color, size, and temperature.

READ IN DETAIL- QUASARS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Which of the following statements about quasars is correct?

A. Quasars are the remnants of exploded supernovae and emit most of their radiation in the infrared spectrum.

B. Quasars are extremely luminous objects powered by the accretion of matter into supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies.

C. Quasars are small, rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit regular pulses of radiation.

D. Quasars are dim, distant stars that are primarily identified by their color and temperature.

Answer: B