Why do quasars shine so brightly?
Quick Answer
Quasars shine because matter falling into a supermassive black hole heats up to extreme temperatures before crossing the event horizon. The glowing accretion disk can release more light than billions of stars combined.
The Full Story
A quasar is powered by a supermassive black hole that is actively pulling in gas and dust. As material spirals inward, friction and gravity heat the accretion disk to millions of degrees, producing intense radiation across the spectrum. That energy can be so powerful that a quasar outshines its host galaxy. Quasars were first identified as strange, distant radio sources in the 1960s. Because they are so bright, astronomers can observe them from very far away and use them to study the early universe.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The brightest lights in the universe come from black holes."