Catalogs of Quasars

Description: This quiz will assess your knowledge on the topic of Quasar Catalogs in Astronomy. These catalogs provide valuable information about quasars, which are among the most luminous and energetic objects in the universe. Test your understanding of the different catalogs, their significance, and the properties of quasars.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: astronomy catalogs quasars active galactic nuclei
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What is the primary purpose of a quasar catalog?

  1. To provide a comprehensive list of all known quasars.

  2. To classify quasars based on their spectral properties.

  3. To measure the distances to quasars.

  4. To study the evolution of quasars over time.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The primary purpose of a quasar catalog is to provide a comprehensive list of all known quasars, allowing astronomers to study their properties, distribution, and evolution.

Which of the following is NOT a well-known quasar catalog?

  1. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (SDSS-QSO)

  2. The Two Micron All-Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (2MASS-QSO)

  3. The Palomar Observatory Quasar Catalog (POSS-QSO)

  4. The Bright Quasar Survey (BQS)


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Palomar Observatory Quasar Catalog (POSS-QSO) is not a well-known quasar catalog, unlike the SDSS-QSO, 2MASS-QSO, and BQS, which are widely used in quasar research.

What is the significance of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (SDSS-QSO)?

  1. It is the largest and most comprehensive quasar catalog to date.

  2. It provides accurate positions and redshifts for quasars.

  3. It includes detailed spectroscopic data for quasars.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The SDSS-QSO is significant because it is the largest and most comprehensive quasar catalog, providing accurate positions, redshifts, and detailed spectroscopic data for a vast number of quasars.

What information can be obtained from a quasar catalog?

  1. The positions of quasars on the sky.

  2. The redshifts of quasars.

  3. The luminosities of quasars.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

A quasar catalog typically provides information about the positions, redshifts, and luminosities of quasars, allowing astronomers to study their distribution, distances, and energy output.

Which quasar catalog is known for its focus on high-redshift quasars?

  1. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (SDSS-QSO)

  2. The Two Micron All-Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (2MASS-QSO)

  3. The Bright Quasar Survey (BQS)

  4. The Hamburg/ESO Quasar Survey (HES)


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Hamburg/ESO Quasar Survey (HES) is known for its focus on high-redshift quasars, providing valuable insights into the early universe and the formation of quasars.

What is the main power source of quasars?

  1. Nuclear fusion

  2. Gravitational energy

  3. Accretion of matter onto a supermassive black hole

  4. Dark energy


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The main power source of quasars is the accretion of matter onto a supermassive black hole at the center of the quasar, releasing enormous amounts of energy.

Which quasar catalog is known for its multi-wavelength coverage?

  1. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (SDSS-QSO)

  2. The Two Micron All-Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (2MASS-QSO)

  3. The Bright Quasar Survey (BQS)

  4. The FIRST Bright Quasar Survey (FBQS)


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The FIRST Bright Quasar Survey (FBQS) is known for its multi-wavelength coverage, including radio data from the FIRST survey, providing insights into the radio properties of quasars.

What is the typical luminosity of a quasar?

  1. Similar to the luminosity of the Sun

  2. Comparable to the luminosity of a galaxy

  3. Orders of magnitude greater than the luminosity of a galaxy

  4. Varies significantly depending on the quasar


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Quasars are extremely luminous objects, with luminosities orders of magnitude greater than the luminosity of a typical galaxy.

Which quasar catalog is known for its focus on X-ray-selected quasars?

  1. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (SDSS-QSO)

  2. The Two Micron All-Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (2MASS-QSO)

  3. The Bright Quasar Survey (BQS)

  4. The ROSAT All-Sky Survey Bright Quasar Survey (RASS-BQS)


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The ROSAT All-Sky Survey Bright Quasar Survey (RASS-BQS) is known for its focus on X-ray-selected quasars, providing insights into the X-ray properties and high-energy emission of quasars.

What is the typical size of a quasar?

  1. Comparable to the size of the Solar System

  2. Similar to the size of a galaxy

  3. Much smaller than the size of a galaxy

  4. Varies significantly depending on the quasar


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Quasars are compact objects, with sizes much smaller than the size of a typical galaxy, typically ranging from a few light-years to a few hundred light-years.

Which quasar catalog is known for its focus on infrared-selected quasars?

  1. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (SDSS-QSO)

  2. The Two Micron All-Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (2MASS-QSO)

  3. The Bright Quasar Survey (BQS)

  4. The WISE All-Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (WISE-QSO)


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The WISE All-Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (WISE-QSO) is known for its focus on infrared-selected quasars, providing insights into the infrared properties and dust content of quasars.

What is the typical redshift range of quasars?

  1. 0 to 1

  2. 1 to 2

  3. 2 to 3

  4. Greater than 3


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Quasars are typically found at very high redshifts, with the majority having redshifts greater than 3, corresponding to distances of billions of light-years.

Which quasar catalog is known for its focus on radio-loud quasars?

  1. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (SDSS-QSO)

  2. The Two Micron All-Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (2MASS-QSO)

  3. The Bright Quasar Survey (BQS)

  4. The FIRST Bright Quasar Survey (FBQS)


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The FIRST Bright Quasar Survey (FBQS) is known for its focus on radio-loud quasars, providing insights into the radio properties and jet activity of quasars.

What is the typical lifetime of a quasar?

  1. A few million years

  2. A few hundred million years

  3. A few billion years

  4. A few trillion years


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The typical lifetime of a quasar is estimated to be a few hundred million years, during which time it undergoes significant changes in its luminosity and properties.

Which quasar catalog is known for its focus on gravitational lensing studies?

  1. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (SDSS-QSO)

  2. The Two Micron All-Sky Survey Quasar Catalog (2MASS-QSO)

  3. The Bright Quasar Survey (BQS)

  4. The Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey (CLASS)


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey (CLASS) is known for its focus on gravitational lensing studies, utilizing quasars as background sources to study the properties of dark matter and the large-scale structure of the universe.

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