Chapter 27

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to quasars, supermassive black holes, and their significance in astronomy.

Quasar

An object of very high redshift that looks like a star but is extragalactic and highly luminous.

Redshift

The phenomenon where the wavelength of light from an object is increased, indicating the object is moving away from us.

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN)

Galaxies that are almost as luminous as quasars and share many of their properties, producing abnormal amounts of energy in their centers.

Supermassive Black Hole

A black hole with a mass ranging from millions to billions of solar masses, found at the center of galaxies.

Accretion Disk

A structure formed by diffused material in orbital motion around a central body, such as a black hole, where matter is heated to high temperatures.

Luminosity

The intrinsic brightness of an astronomical object, often measured in relation to the Sun.

Hubble Law

The observation that more distant galaxies are moving away from us faster than nearer ones, indicating the expansion of the universe.

Doppler Effect

The change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the source of the wave.

Emission Lines

Dark or bright lines in a spectrum that indicate the presence of certain elements as they absorb or emit light.

Cosmic Evolution

The study of the formation and evolution of the cosmos over time, including the development of galaxies and black holes.