Gamma-ray Burster
Explanation:
Gamma-ray bursts
seem to be the most powerful explosions in the Universe.
Yet their sources continue to elude
researchers who stand in awe and
frustration at the bursts' transient, enigmatic behavior.
The blinking gif above illustrates
the latest hard-won result in the
quest to identify and understand
the nature of the bursters.
These Apache Point Observatory optical images from Monday and Tuesday
this week have helped identify a faint, fading object (red arrow) near
the position of a gamma-ray burst.
The gamma-ray burst triggered
satellite observatories on Sunday, December 14th.
Faint stars near the
constellation Ursa Major (the Big Dipper) also appear
in these "negative" images of the sky.
Though thousands of bursts have been detected by satellites sensitive
to gamma rays, it is likely that this object represents only the third
known optical counterpart to a
gamma-ray burst.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
