Introduction to active galaxies

## 3.6 A 'non-active' class - the starburst galaxies

### 4 The central engine

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# 4.1 Introduction: the active galactic nuclei (AGN)

From Section 3 you will have discovered that one thing all active galaxies have in common is a compact nucleus, the AGN, which is the source of their activity. In this section you will study the two properties of AGNs that make them so intriguing - their small size and high luminosity - and learn about the energy source at the heart of the AGN, the central engine.

◄Contents►Next: 4.2 The size of AGNs

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