BL Lacertae Objects

BL Lacertae Objects, or Lacertids, in astronomy, celestial objects that are powerful sources of rapidly varying infrared, light, and radio waves. The objects are named after the prototype first observed in the small northern constellation Lacerta (Latin, “the lizard”). About 30 Lacertids have been identified thus far. Current astronomical thought is that the objects are active galaxies. It has been conjectured that the Lacertids, quasars, and radio galaxies are actually the same types of objects viewed from earth at different angles that either obscure or reveal the galaxy's central powerhouse of radiation. See also Quasar; Radio Astronomy.