(Rod Mollise) wrote in message ...
What would a quasar look like up close? Say, if there was an active quasar
right now at the center of the milky way galaxy? How would it appear from
earth? How bright would it be?

Hi:

I'd say "purty bright." And you _might_ even see some jet action too.
However...I'd guess that a lot of the fun-stuff would be hidden by those bad
ol' dust clouds, just as Sagittarius A* is in our sedate little spiral.

On a similar theme, I'd guess that the milky way must look spectacular
from an observer on the 'nearside' of one of the magellenic clouds.
It would be *huge* in the sky, perhaps not as bright as we might
imagine, but really something amazing to scan with a wide FOV
instrument!

Here's a nice artist's impression of a planet's view of something big!

http://www.exoplaneten.de/Q0957+561/...landschaft.jpg

(it's actually speculating on a 'quasar planet', but it conveys the
general idea nicely)