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Credit & Copyright: HST Image: D.W. Fox, J.S. Bloom, S.R. Kulkarni
(Caltech), et al.
XMM Result: J.N. Reeves, D. Watson, J.P. Osborne (University of Leicester), et al.
Explanation:
What causes the mysterious
gamma-ray bursts?
Indicated in this
Hubble Space Telescope exposure of an otherwise
unremarkable field in the constellation
Crater, is the dwindling
optical afterglow of a gamma-ray burst first
detected
by the Beppo-SAX satellite on 2001 December 11.
The burst's host galaxy,
billions of light-years distant, is the
faint smudge extending above and to the left of the afterglow position.
After rapidly catching the
fading
x-ray light from the burst with
the orbiting XMM-Newton
observatory, astronomers are
now reporting
the telltale signatures of
elements
magnesium, silicon,
sulphur, argon, and calcium - material most likely found in an
expanding debris
cloud produced by the explosion of a massive star.
The exciting result
is evidence that the gamma-ray burst itself
is linked to a very energetic supernova
explosion
which may have
preceded the powerful
flash of gamma-rays by up to a few days.
XMM Result: J.N. Reeves, D. Watson, J.P. Osborne (University of Leicester), et al.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: GRB 011211 - gamma-ray burst - supernova
Publications with words: GRB 011211 - gamma-ray burst - supernova
See also:
- APOD: 2023 October 11 Á NGC 1097: Spiral Galaxy with Supernova
- APOD: 2023 July 9 Á Doomed Star Eta Carinae
- APOD: 2023 May 22 Á Supernova Discovered in Nearby Spiral Galaxy M101
- Supernova Cannon Expels Pulsar J0002
- SN Requiem: A Supernova Seen Three Times So Far
- NGC 7814: Little Sombrero with Supernova
- Supernova in NGC 2525