Fermi's First Light
Explanation:
Launched
on June 11 to explore the universe at extreme energies,
the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope has been
officially renamed the
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, in
honor of Nobel Laureate
Enrico Fermi (1901-1954), pioneer
in high-energy physics.
After testing, Fermi's
two instruments,
the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) and the Large Area Telescope (LAT),
are now regularly returning data.
Fermi's first map of the
gamma-ray
sky from the LAT is shown in this false-color image, an
all-sky view that looks toward the center of our
Milky Way Galaxy
with the galactic plane projected across the middle.
What shines in the gamma-ray sky?
Along the galactic plane, energetic cosmic rays collide with gas
and dust to produce the diffuse gamma-ray glow.
Strong emission from spinning neutron stars or
pulsars,
and distant
active
galaxies known as blazars, can be identified by
placing your cursor over the map.
A prelude
to future discoveries,
the remarkable result combines only 4 days of observations,
equivalent to a year of observations with the
Compton
Gamma-ray Observatory mission of the 1990s.
In addition to the ability to monitor
gamma-ray bursts,
the greatly improved sensitivity will allow Fermi to look deeper
into the
high-energy Universe.
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.
