Astrophysical object
Active Galactic Nucleus
Cosmology & UniverseEstablished Science
Definition
A galaxy centre made unusually luminous by matter accreting onto a supermassive black hole.
Scientific overview
Active galactic nuclei (AGN) span quasars, blazars, and Seyfert galaxies — all powered by a central supermassive black hole. Unified models explain their variety largely by viewing angle and accretion rate.
Rests on
Related topics
Knowledge connections
- Related toAccretion Disk
- Related toSupermassive Black Hole
- Related toQuasar
- Related toBlazar
- Depends onAccretion Disk
- Related toSupermassive Black Hole
- Related toQuasar
- Related toBlazar
- Associated withSeyfert Galaxy
- Associated withLINER
- Associated withRadio Galaxy
- Associated withBL Lac Object
- Associated withThe Unified AGN Model
- Associated withBlack-Hole Feedback
- Associated withRelativistic Jet
- Associated withThe Blandford–Znajek Mechanism
Sources & references
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.
- ESOEuropean Southern Observatory
Southern-hemisphere observatory data and imagery (VLT, ALMA partner).