blazar
nounUS /ˈbleɪ.zɑɹ/
Etymology Blend of B + L + Lac + quasar. Coined by astronomer Edward Spiegel in 1978 from BL Lac object and quasar, punning blazing from its optical presentation compared to usual quasars. By surface analysis, blaze + -ar.
1
Astronomy, Natural sciences A very compact quasar, associated with a supermassive black hole at the center of an active galaxy.
2
Astronomy, Natural sciences An object which is either an optically violent variable quasar (OVV quasar) or a BL Lac object or which has properties of both.
- Related terms
- blazer
- Hypernyms
- active galaxy, AGN, quasar