OG-180 -no discussion before

I have lots of trouble in understanding what A trying to convey, could somebody help me understand it's meaning AS THEY WERE DURING, what information is omitted after WERE, and what function does AS perform in this sentence???????

Quasars are so distant that their light has taken billions of years to reach the Earth; consequently, we see them as they were during the formation of the universe.

A) we se them as they were during

B)we see them as they had been during

C)we see them as if during

D)they appear to us as they did in

E) they appear to us as though in

常识, 有些星星离地球太远, 他们龅墓庖?艹な奔?几万年) 才能到地球, 而人眼看见的物体实际上不是物体本身, 而是从物体反射的光, 所以我们现在看到的这些星星(的光), 实际上是他们几万年前发出的, 也就是, 是他们几万年前的样子.

about as, were, hope following example will help:

you are as you were several years ago.

Wow Thanks W GG, that is really enlighting,now I see...!