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BL Lac object

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
BL Lac object
n
(Astronomy & Space / Celestial Objects) an extremely compact violently variable form of active galaxy
[named after BL Lacertae, first identified example found in the constellation Lacerta and originally thought to be a variable star]

BL Lac object  (bl läk)
A distant radio galaxy with an intensely bright active galactic nucleus that emits a jet of material directly toward the Earth. BL Lac objects may be a class of blazar, though there is evidence that they are an optical effect caused by gravitational lensing of some other bright object by an intervening galaxy. Also known as BL Lacertae objects.


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Weekes notes that the gamma radiation generated by Markarian 421 probably comes from the edges of a jet believed to emanate from a quasar-like entity, called a BL Lac object, at the galaxy's center.
The intensity of gamma radiation from each source -- quasar relatives called BL Lac objects -- represents 10 trillion times the output of the sun at all wavelengths.
 
 
 
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