One Quasar, Two Quasar, Red Quasar, Blue Quasar: A Seuss-Like Space Color Mystery Explained

While the colors of weird astronomical objects known as quasars might seem elementary, the science behind these colors is rather complicated.

A team at Durham University in the UK say they have discovered a phase in the evolution of quasars — galaxies with a very active black hole in the center — that could provide more insight into the curious life of these objects. 

Like a children's book from Dr. Seuss, quasars have simple names: red quasar and blue quasar.

Related: The Mighty Quasar: The Science Behind These Galactic Lighthouses

Most quasars have a blue-ish tinge, Durham officials said in a statement.. But there's an astronomical mystery here to consider: many quasars appear more red if they are viewed through obscuring clouds of gas and dust. "The conventional view of red quasars is that they are actually blue quasars that are angled away from our line-of-sight," according to the statement. But a new science team led by doctoral student Lizelke Klindt argues that there is a much different explanation.

Specifically, Durham says that red quasars "are likely to be the result of a brief, but violent, phase in the evolution of galaxies when their black holes are ejecting large amounts of energy into the surrounding dust and gas." This energy emission carries away any gas and dust in the vicinity, leaving a blue quasar behind. 

The team reached this new conclusion  by studying 10,000 red and blue quasars in various stages of evolution. Their findings may also shed light on how galaxies form in general, according to the statement.

"[Scientists] expect that the massive burst of energy from the black hole would burn off the gas needed to form stars," Durham stated. "Without gas, the galaxies can't grow — so the quasar is effectively ending the life of the galaxy by destroying the very thing that it needs to survive."

A study based on this research was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace