Explanation: Explorers often discover the unexpected. Such was the case when the Second Palomar Observatory Sky Survey chanced upon the unusual object circled in the above photograph. The so-called mystery object appeared star-like but displayed colors unlike most stars or quasars. Further investigation has now revealed the object to be a Broad Absorption Line (BAL) quasar, a relatively rare type of active center of a distant galaxy. Different atoms and molecules in the absorbing gas surrounding the BAL quasar's center probably cause the unusual colors. We are fortunate enough to live in the fascinating age when much of the universe is being investigated for the first time, so exciting - and often unexpected - discoveries are sure to continue.

Tomorrow's picture: The Crab Nebula in X-Rays

<<  Sentyabr'  >> Pn Vt Sr Cht Pt Sb Vs     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30       1995   1996   1997 1998   1999   2000 2001   2002   2003 2004   2005   2006 2007   2008   2009 2010   2011   2012 2013   2014   2015 2016   2017   2018 2019   2020   2021 2022   2023   2024

Yanvar' Fevral' Mart Aprel' Mai Iyun' Iyul' Avgust Sentyabr' Oktyabr' Noyabr' Dekabr'

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Publikacii s klyuchevymi slovami: dalekie galaktiki - kvazary - linii poglosheniya - aktivnaya galaktika - yadra aktivnyh galaktik Publikacii so slovami: dalekie galaktiki - kvazary - linii poglosheniya - aktivnaya galaktika - yadra aktivnyh galaktik
Sm. takzhe: Obolochki i dzhety galaktiki Centavr A Aktivnaya galaktika NGC 1275 Centavr A Kvazar v rannei Vselennoi Tancuyushie prizraki: iskrivlennye dzhety iz aktivnyh galaktik M77: spiral'naya galaktika s aktivnym yadrom V centre Centavra A Vse publikacii na tu zhe temu >>