The steady state theory lost its appeal when astronomers discovered quasars and cosmic background radiation. This theory posited that the universe was eternal and unchanging on a large scale, but the detection of quasars indicated a dynamic universe with active galactic phenomena. Additionally, the discovery of cosmic background radiation provided strong evidence for the Big Bang theory, suggesting a specific origin point for the universe's expansion, contrary to the steady state concept.
# Cosmic background radiation (remnants of the Big Bang). # Quasars.
Astronomers determine the size of quasars by analyzing the variability of their light. Quasars show rapid and dramatic changes in brightness over short periods, indicating that they must be very compact, likely smaller than our own solar system. By studying the time scales of these changes, astronomers can estimate the size of quasars.
Quasars typically have large redshifts, which indicate that they are moving away from us at high speeds. This redshift is due to the expansion of the universe and can help astronomers determine the distance and age of quasars.
Astronomers use telescopes, both ground-based and space-based, to study quasars. They observe the light emitted by quasars across different wavelengths, such as visible, ultraviolet, and X-ray, to learn more about their properties and behavior. Additionally, they analyze the spectra of quasars to understand their composition and the physical processes happening within them.
In Cosmic Physics for $1000, Alex, "What is the Steady State Universe?"
# Cosmic background radiation (remnants of the Big Bang). # Quasars.
The first quasars were discovered in the 1950's
Astronomers determine the size of quasars by analyzing the variability of their light. Quasars show rapid and dramatic changes in brightness over short periods, indicating that they must be very compact, likely smaller than our own solar system. By studying the time scales of these changes, astronomers can estimate the size of quasars.
Stars, quasars, clusters, nebulae, galaxies, superclusters, the CMBR (Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation).
Quasars typically have large redshifts, which indicate that they are moving away from us at high speeds. This redshift is due to the expansion of the universe and can help astronomers determine the distance and age of quasars.
pulsar and quasars
Astronomers use telescopes, both ground-based and space-based, to study quasars. They observe the light emitted by quasars across different wavelengths, such as visible, ultraviolet, and X-ray, to learn more about their properties and behavior. Additionally, they analyze the spectra of quasars to understand their composition and the physical processes happening within them.
Quasars emit strong radio waves in addition to other forms of radiation like visible light. These radio emissions can be detected by radio telescopes, which is why quasars are sometimes colloquially referred to as "radio stars."
A radio telescope uses an antenna and receiver to detect radio waves emitted by astronomical objects. Unlike optical telescopes that observe visible light, radio telescopes capture radio frequencies, allowing astronomers to study phenomena such as pulsars, quasars, and cosmic microwave background radiation. The collected data is then processed to create images or spectra of the observed objects.
Quasars are some of the most distant and luminous bodies we can observe. Since we measure them to be incredibly far from our own galaxy, in the order of billions of light-years, astronomers believe that they are several billions of years old as their light would have taken that long to travel to us. Astronomers think that they may be young galaxies as the appear to be incredibly bright balls of accreting gas that probably have black holes at their cores. Because quasars give off characteristic pulses of light at regular intervals, astronomers use them as "standard candles" to measure the redshifts (how quickly they are moving away from us) of other extremely distant objects.
The first quasars were discovered with radio telescopes in the late 1950s. However many were recorded only as radio sources with no visible object. Hundreds of these objects were recorded by 1960 and published in the Third Cambridge Catalogue. In 1960, a radio source was finally tied to an optical object. Astronomers detected what appeared to be a faint blue star at the location of the radio source. In 1962 another radio source, 3C 273,measured by Cyril Hazard and John Bolton during one of the occultations which allowed Maarten Schmidt to optically identify the object and obtain an optical spectrum. This discovery revolutionized quasar observation. The term quasar was coined by astrophysicist Hong Yee Chiu in 1964. See related link for more information