quasars
Peer Into the Distant Universe: How to See Quasars With Backyard Telescopes
“How far can you see with that thing?” It’s a common question overhead at many public star parties in reference…
Winds of Supermassive Black Holes Can Shape Galaxy-Wide Star Formation
The combined observations from two generations of X-Ray space telescopes have now revealed a more complete picture of the nature of…
What is Gravitational Lensing?
Gravity's a funny thing. Not only does it tug away at you, me, planets, moons and stars, but it can…
Astronomers Catch A Quasar Shutting Off
Last week, astronomers at Yale University reported seeing something unusual: a seemingly stedfast beacon from the far reaches of the Universe went quiet.…
When Two Supermassive Black Holes Merge, It’s a Galactic Train Wreck
Most large galaxies harbor central supermassive black holes with masses equivalent to millions, or even billions, of Suns. Some, like…
Distant Galaxies Reveal 3D Cosmic Web for the First Time
On the largest scales, networks of gaseous filaments span hundreds of millions of light-years, connecting massive galaxy clusters. But this…
What Lit up the Universe? Astronomers May be on the Brink of an Answer
Most scientists can see, hear, smell, touch or even taste their research. But astronomers can only study light — photons…
How did Supermassive Black Holes Grow so Massive so Quickly?
Black holes one billion times the Sun’s mass or more lie at the heart of many galaxies, driving their evolution.…
Supermassive Black Hole Blasting Molecular Hydrogen Solves Outstanding Mystery
The supermassive black holes in the cores of most massive galaxies wreak havoc on their immediate surroundings. During their most…
Three Supermassive Black Holes Tango in a Distant Galaxy, Marking a Huge Discovery
In a galaxy four billion light-years away, three supermassive black holes are locked in a whirling embrace. It’s the tightest…