GRB 221009A
Explanation:
Gamma-ray
burst GRB 221009A
likely signals the birth of a new black hole,
formed at the core of a collapsing star
long ago in the distant universe.
The extremely powerful blast is depicted in this animated gif constructed
using data from the
Fermi Gamma
Ray Space Telescope.
Fermi captured the data at gamma-ray energies, detecting
photons with over 100
million electron volts.
In comparison visible light photons have energies of
about 2 electron volts.
A steady,
high energy gamma-ray glow from the plane
of our Milky Way galaxy runs
diagonally through the
20 degree wide frame at the left,
while the transient gamma-ray flash from GRB 221009A appears
at center and then fades.
One of the brightest gamma-ray bursts ever detected
GRB 221009A is also close as far as gamma-ray bursts go,
but still lies about 2
billion light-years away.
In low Earth orbit
FermiБs Large Area Telescope recorded gamma-ray photons from the burst
for more than 10 hours as high-energy radiation from GRB 221009A
swept over planet Earth
last Sunday, October 9.
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.
