Discovery · 1963 CE
The Discovery of Quasars
History of Astronomy
Overview
Maarten Schmidt recognised that the puzzling radio source 3C 273 was extremely redshifted, placing it billions of light-years away and making it astonishingly luminous.
Why it matters
Revealed quasars as the brilliant, active cores of distant galaxies powered by supermassive black holes.
Credit
Objects & facilities
Knowledge connections
- Discovered byMaarten Schmidt
- Part ofSpace Age Astronomy
- Discovered atPalomar Observatory
- Related toQuasar
Sources & references
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica
General reference for the history of astronomy, biographies, and cultural context.
- 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.