Which cosmic object is the brightest known quasar?
Quick Answer
The quasar 3C 273 is one of the best-known and brightest quasars in the sky, with apparent magnitude around 12.9. It was the first quasar ever identified.
The Full Story
3C 273 is one of the most famous quasars and among the brightest known in the sky as seen from Earth. It has an apparent magnitude of about 12.9, which is too faint for the naked eye but bright for such a distant object. 3C 273 was the first quasar identified in 1963, helping astronomers realize that these strange radio sources were powered by supermassive black holes. Quasars can outshine their host galaxies by huge amounts because of energy released as matter falls inward.
Key Facts
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