Introduction to active galaxies

# 7.2 Types of active galaxy

- All active galaxies have a compact, energetic nucleus - an AGN.

- Seyfert galaxies are spiral galaxies with bright, point-like nuclei which vary in brightness. They show excesses at far infrared and other wavelengths, and have strong, broad emission lines.

- Quasars resemble very distant Seyfert galaxies with very luminous nuclei. They are variable. About 10% are strong radio sources thought to be powered by jets of material moving at speeds close to the speed of light.

- Radio galaxies are distinguished by having giant radio lobes fed by one or two jets. They have a compact nucleus like Seyfert galaxies. The compact nucleus is variable, and its emission lines may be broad or narrow.

- Blazars exhibit a continuous spectrum across a wide range of wavelengths and emission lines, when present, are broad and weak. They are variable on very rapid timescales.

OpenLearn - Introduction to active galaxies
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