The basic aim of this research is to investigate the nature and evolution of quasars or quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) and active galactic nuclei. The observations will be used to study the history and evolution of the Universe. These types of investigations have been hampered up to now by the lack of sufficiently large QSO samples. There is particularly a lack of knowledge of the density and properties of QSOs with redshifts greater than 3. The aim of one project is to complete a QSO sample, which is already essentially complete, for redshifts between 1.8 and 3.3 based on United Kingdom Schmidt Telescope (UKST) objective prism plates. A total of more than 90 QSOs have already been confirmed in this region and there is spectra available of the QSOs. Studies will be carried out of samples selected from broad band color surveys to complete the survey for redshifts greater than 1.8. Observations will also be completed of identified radio sources from a Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope survey in the same region. High priority will be given to a survey for QSOs with redshifts greater than 3.3. Objective prism plates in an area of about 140 square degrees of sky will be used. In the central 30 square degrees of this region four QSOs have already been found with redshifts between 3.3 and 3.67. Attempts will be made to observe redshifts greater than 4. Dr. Hazard is a well-known expert in the study of quasi-stellar objects. He has not previously had a grant from the Foundation. Dr. Hazard has been very instrumental in helping others find high redshift quasars. The results of the research will be very important to our knowledge of quasars. In particular, since very large redshifts imply very great distances, the light from the quasars was emitted billions of years ago. If there is a maximum redshift for quasars, the results of the research will provide a clue to when the quasars were formed.
