Observations of active galaxies

Mushotzky, Richard

United States

Abstract

New information obtained by the EXOSAT satellite on the nature of the X-ray variability in AGNs is discussed. From the EXOSAT data, it is seen that many more AGNs vary on short timescales; in some cases, the character of the time variability is quantitatively and qualitatively different than expected from the flare model of the variability. Data on the two active galaxies NGC5506 and NGC4051, which exemplify these findings, are discussed.

1987 Nature
Exosat 2