brightest quasar

The brightest quasar, and the first to be identified as a quasi-stellar object, is known by its number in the 3rd Cambridge catalogue of radio sources: 3C 273. It is about 13th magnitude though like many quasars, variable in its light output. It was known as a strong source of radio waves in the constellation Virgo before its position could be pinpointed accurately enough to locate its optical counterpart. That identification was achieved in 1962, when it was occulted by the Moon. The redshift of 3C 273 is 0.158. The next brightest quasars are around 15th magnitude.