Context:
According to a new study Quasars the brightest and the most powerful objects in the universe – have a violent origin story
Relevance:
GS III: Science and technology
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Quasars
- What is a Blackhole?
About Quasars:
- Quasars are intriguing astronomical objects that have fascinated scientists since their discovery over 60 years ago.
- They are located in the centers of galaxies and emit huge amounts of energy, including radio waves, visible light, and X-rays.
Here are some key facts about quasars:
Discovery:
- Quasars were first discovered in the late 1950s by astronomers who were studying radio waves emitted from distant galaxies.
- At the time, they were thought to be stars within our own galaxy, but further research revealed that they were actually located in faraway galaxies.
Properties:
- Quasars are among the most luminous objects in the universe.
- They emit huge amounts of energy, with some quasars being thousands of times brighter than our entire Milky Way galaxy.
- They are powered by supermassive black holes located in the centers of galaxies.
Formation:
- Quasars are formed when gas falls into the supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy.
- As the gas spirals into the black hole, it releases energy in the form of intense radiation and powerful jets of particles.
- These emissions can be detected across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Size:
- Most quasars are larger than our entire solar system, with a typical quasar being about 1 kiloparsec in width.
- This makes them some of the largest objects in the universe.
Importance:
- Quasars provide valuable insights into the early universe and the formation of galaxies.
- By studying quasars, scientists can learn about the conditions and processes that were present in the universe billions of years ago.
- Quasars can also be used as “lighthouses” to map the distribution of matter in the universe and study the effects of cosmic expansion.
What is a Blackhole?
- A black hole is a region of spacetime where the gravitational force is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.
- It is formed when a massive star runs out of fuel and collapses under the force of its own gravity, becoming extremely dense and compact.
- The point of no return around a black hole is called the event horizon, beyond which anything that enters is trapped and cannot escape.
- Black holes are invisible, but their presence can be inferred by their gravitational effects on nearby matter.
- They are important objects of study in astrophysics and have contributed greatly to our understanding of the universe.
-Source: Indian Express
