Galaxy and Quasars

Since their discovery, the nature of quasars has been one of the most

intriguing and baffling problems as evidenced by the following quotations: "

the problem of understanding quasi-stellar objects… is one of the most

important and fascinating tasks in all physics" - G.Burbidge and Hoyle. "The

quasar continues to rank both as one of the most baffling objects in the

universe and one most capable of inspiring heated argument" - Morrison. "The

redshift problem is one of the most critical problems in astronomy today" -

G. Burbidge. "Quasars still remain the profoundest mystery in the heavens" -

Hazard and Mitton.

The conventional interpretation of the spectral lines observed in quasars is

based on the redshift hypothesis. Three hypotheses have been advanced to

account for the supposed redshifts: 1. Cosmological hypothesis; the redshifts

are due to the expansion of the universe, 2. Gravitational hypothesis, 3

Local-Doppler hypothesis; in this hypothesis the redshifts are due to the

Doppler effect, but the quasars are relatively nearby and have nothing to do

with the expansion of the universe. Of these hypotheses, the first one is

the most publicized one.

One is led to attribute to quasars very many mysterious properties if one

assumes the redshift hypothesis to be correct. A patient analysis of the

data on quasars over the years has led to the conclusion that the real source

of the trouble is in the assumption that the spectra of quasars have

redshifts.

In the early 1960's quasars were known as 'radio stars' because the method

used to discover the first quasars was based on coincidences between a strong

radio source and a point-like optical source. Since each radio source was

associated with a star it was originally thought that quasars were objects

within the galaxy hence the term 'radio stars'. Quasars or quasi-stellar

radio source, from the method by