Why Quasars are So Awesome (PBS Spacetime) 10 min

Join astrophycists Matt O'Dowd for a brief, but in-depth peek into the powerful hearts of quasars and how we came to understand them and what they teach us about the universe.  This video is the best-ever description and graphics of quasars. Favorite quote: "It was a hard won understanding."

Quasar Absorption: Quasars and Galaxies in the Distant Universe

A highly insightful 1 minute visual tutorial (no accomanying narration) published by Swinburne University. This video shows the spectrum of light emitted from a distant quasar as it travels through the expanding universe, intercepts the gas surrounding a galaxy which imprints absorption lines in the spectrum, and then, after continuing its journey through the cosmos, is recorded in a telescope on Earth.

A Conversation with Maarten Schmidt 

An interview with the late Maarten Schmidt, the discoverer of the nature of  quasars. (interviewed by Sandy Faber). I recommend playing at 1.25 speed.

The Discovery of Quasars 

A talk by Maarten Schmidt (roughly 30 minutes) delivered at the "Quasars at 50" anniversary workshop at Caltech.  This lecture is a little "rough and ready," but it is well worth listening to the "father" of quasars described his personal journey of discovery.

The Quasar at the Beginning of Time (PBS Spacetime) 8 min

Join astrophycists Matt O'Dowd for a visit with the highest redshift quasar known and its phenomenal properties.  He takes us on a tour of the Gemini Telescope on top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii "where the Earth touches the Universe".  Learn how quasar light is collected and studied and why this quasar if creating sucha stir among astronomers.