In what sense are the quasars "quasi- stellar"?
A) Their energy production is hydrogen- helium fusion, like main- sequence stars.
B) Their spectra are like those of ordinary stars.
C) They are upscale versions of O stars, yet hundreds of times more massive.
D) In short time exposures, their images looked stellar.
E) Their luminosity comes from the millions of supergiants that compose them.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Quasars appear point-like, similar to stars, when observed with telescopes in short time exposures, which is why they are described as "quasi-stellar." Their energy and luminosity, however, come from accretion of material onto supermassive black holes at the centers of distant galaxies, not from processes typical of stars.

In What Sense Are the Quasars "Quasi- Stellar