Are Quasars Still Present in Our Universe?

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In summary, according to the current model, there are probably no quasars currently existing in our universe. The nearest quasars are about 780 million light years away and require large amounts of gas and dust to power their energy. Once this fuel is depleted, the quasar becomes a normal galaxy. This is supported by the fact that no locally existing quasars have been found.
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Richard87
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Do any quasars presently exist in our universe? Or are all the quasars gone?
 
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All astronomical objects are seen as they were some time in the past. The nearest quasars are about 780 million light years away. It probably still exists now, but you can't be sure. Wikipedia has a good article on the subject.
 
  • #3
Richard87 said:
Do any quasars presently exist in our universe? Or are all the quasars gone?

Probably not. The current model for quasars is that they are powered by large amounts of gas and dust falling into a massive black hole. Once the black hole has cleaned out off all of the gas and dust, then you have no more quasars, and the former-quasar turns into a run of the mill normal looking galaxy.
 
  • #4
Probably not. Quasar populations ramp up with redshift and none are known to exist locally. Hugely energetic source require hugely abundant fuel supplies. Ack, I just noticed twofish said the same thing.
 

1. What is a quasar?

A quasar is an extremely luminous and distant active galactic nucleus, powered by a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy. They emit large amounts of energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, making them one of the brightest objects in the universe.

2. How are quasars formed?

Quasars are formed when gas and dust are pulled into the accretion disk surrounding a supermassive black hole. The intense gravitational forces cause the material to heat up and emit large amounts of radiation, creating the bright appearance of a quasar.

3. How far away are quasars?

Quasars are located at extremely large distances from Earth, with some being billions of light years away. This means we are seeing them as they appeared billions of years ago, due to the time it takes for their light to reach us.

4. What is the significance of studying quasars?

Studying quasars can provide insights into the early universe and the evolution of galaxies. They can also help us better understand the behavior of supermassive black holes and the effects of their powerful gravitational forces.

5. Can we observe quasars with the naked eye?

No, quasars are not visible to the naked eye. They are extremely distant objects and require powerful telescopes to be observed. However, some quasars have been observed in the infrared and radio wavelengths, which are not visible to the human eye.

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