Astrophotography by Anthony Ayiomamitis

Quasar Image Gallery

Quasars or quasi-stellar radio source are sources of electromagnetic energy which are characterized with high red shifts, thus leading scientists to conclude that not only they are moving away but are also at a great distance from us. Of the over 100,000 quasars identified to-date, the greatest proportion are over one billion light-years away (the closest quasar identified to-date is 780 million light-years away whereas the most distant quasar discovered so far is 13 billion light-years away). As a result, quasars represent entities from the universe's distant past.

Given their visibility (generally as point sources of light), it follows they must be associated with tremendous amounts of energy which is only exceeded in intensity by supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. Some examples of quasars also involve the centers of (active) galaxies and which has led to the suggestion that supermassive black holes at the galaxy center and the consequent accretion of material must fuel these quasars. The rapid change in luminosity observed for some quasars also suggests they must be relatively small entities.

Note: The Third Cambridge Catalogue of Radio Sources (3C) is the most detailed collection of such radio sources and is available online as is the case for a later revision commonly referred to as 3CRR.

Note: A special group of quasars commonly referred to as blazars are available elsewhere on this website (click here).


Quasars and Gravitational Lensing

APM 08279+5255 in Lyn


FBQ 0951+2635 in Leo


QSO 0957+561
Twin Quasar in UMa

QSO 2237+0305
Einstein's Cross in Peg

SBS 0909+532 in UMa



Quasars

3C 48 in Tri

3C 191 in Cnc

3C 212 in Cnc

3C 232 in Leo

3C 273 in Vir

3C 371 in Dra

3C 454.3 in Peg

Mrk 205 in Dra

Mrk 421 in UMa

Mrk 478 in Boo

Mrk 501 in Her

Mrk 876 in Dra

OQ 530 in Boo

PG1634+706 in Dra

PKS 1354+19 in Boo

TON 951 in Lyn

TON 1530 in Com

W Com