AGN unification theory

The Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) unification theory suggests that different observed types of AGNs—such as quasars and Seyfert galaxies—are essentially the same objects viewed from different angles. At their centers are supermassive black holes surrounded by an accretion disk of inflowing material, emitting intense energy. This core is enveloped by a dusty, doughnut-shaped structure called the torus. Depending on our line of sight, the torus may block certain emissions, leading us to see different features. Thus, the variations in observed properties are mainly due to orientation, not fundamental differences in the objects themselves.