LINER-Quasar Composite (IMAGE)

University of Maryland

LINER-Quasar Composite

Caption

A new study led by University of Maryland astronomers documented six sleepy, low-ionization nuclear emission-line region galaxies (LINERs; left) suddenly transforming into blazing quasars (right), home to the brightest of all active galactic nuclei. The researchers suggest they have discovered an entirely new type of black hole activity at the centers of these six LINER galaxies.

Credit

(Left; infrared & visible light imagery): ESA/Hubble, NASA and S. Smartt (Queen's University Belfast); (Right; artist's concept): NASA/JPL-Caltech

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