Quasars: The Brightest Objects in Space

Quasars are extremely bright objects in space, powered by supermassive black holes. They were first discovered in the 1930s and are much brighter than stars. Quasars emit energy that can exceed trillions of electron volts, making them 10 to 100,000 times brighter than any star in the Milky Way. Observing quasars helps scientists understand the early universe, as they are billions of light years away. The Milky Way may have hosted a quasar in the past.

What are quasars and how do they differ from stars?

Who discovered quasars and in which decade?

What role do supermassive black holes play in the formation of quasars?

How do quasars provide insights into the early universe?

What is the energy output of quasars compared to the stars in our galaxy?