This image is an artist's concept of a quasar's engine - a black hole pulling in surrounding gas and dust. In this image, the black hole is buried in the center of a disk of gas and dust (brown and yellow cloudy area in center). This material whirls around the black hole before plunging in, like water down a drain. This generates intense friction, heating the gas and causing it to shine brightly. CREDIT: Aurore Simonnet, Sonoma State University
