quasar
UK: ˈkweɪ.zɑːr | US: ˈkweɪ.zɑːr
n. A massive and extremely remote celestial object, emitting exceptionally large amounts of energy, often resembling a star in optical telescopes but characterized by high redshift and other properties indicating extreme distance and luminosity.
Coined in 1964 by astrophysicist Hong-Yee Chiu, "quasar" blends "quasi-" and "stellar" to describe objects that appeared star-like in early telescopes but were later identified as active galactic nuclei powered by supermassive black holes. The term captures their paradoxical nature—seemingly star-like yet fundamentally different.
The quasar's luminosity exceeds that of entire galaxies.
Scientists study quasars to understand the early universe.
This quasar's redshift suggests it is billions of light-years away.
Quasars are among the most energetic phenomena in the cosmos.
The discovery of quasars revolutionized astrophysics in the 20th century.