Quasar
/id/Source Language: The language or dialect this term originates from (ID).Definition & Context
NounNoun
A word that functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects, such as living creatures, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas.
An extremely remote and highly luminous active galactic nucleus, powered by an accretion disk surrounding a supermassive black hole. This object emits immense amounts of electromagnetic energy, appearing star-like through telescopes, and serves as one of the most brilliant entities in the universe.
Synonyms & Variants
inti galaksi aktif
A broader technical term
objek kuasi-bintang
A term often used in scientific literature to describe quasars as objects that appear star-like but are not stars.
sumber energi kosmik
A descriptive term used in popular science or educational contexts to refer to quasars.
sumber radio kuasi-bintang
The full technical term explaining the origin of the name quasar as a quasi-stellar object emitting radio waves.
agn
Technical abbreviation in astronomy literature
bintang kuasi
Literal translation of the quasi-stellar aspect
blazar
Similar object with different emission characteristics
lubang hitam
The primary power source of a quasar
Usage Notes or Etymology
The term is a portmanteau coined by astrophysicist Hong-Yee Chiu in 1964 as an abbreviation for “quasi-stellar radio source”. Etymologically, it combines the Latin prefix quasi meaning “as if” with the English word stellar derived from stella. This naming reflects the initial confusion of scientists when observing objects with strange frequency spectra that appeared as single star-like points of light via telescopes. In social and academic contexts, this word represents a major transition in human understanding of high-energy astrophysics. The usage is formal and specific, frequently employed in scientific publications to distinguish active black hole phenomena from normal galaxies. It is more than a technical label, serving as a symbol of advanced observational technology that allows humanity to witness objects at the edge of the observable universe.
Real-world Usage
Para astronom sedang meneliti pancaran energi dari quasar tersebut untuk memahami evolusi galaksi.
English Translation
Representative of real-world usage and contextual accuracy.