Apr 29 2009
Gamma-Ray Burst - A Blast from the Past
At 3:55 AM EDT on April 23, 2009; NASA recorded a “Blast from the Past”! A gamma-ray burst was detected by NASA’s Swift Satellite has smashed any previous record for the most powerful explosion in the universe. Researchers are calling it “an incredible find” and a “blast from the past”.
The Swift Satellite with the aid of a team of international astronomers, the discovery was made that this gamma-ray burst was from a star that died when the universe was only 630 million years old. When the burst occurred, the Swift Satellite immediately was able to pinpoint its location so astronomers on the ground could aim their telescopes to view the explosion before its afterglow died off.
Gamma-ray bursts are the most luminous explosions in the universe. They most often represent the period in the life of a star when it runs out of fuel, and then the core of the star implodes into a black hole. Jets of matter and debris leave the star and head outward, going though gases that were previously shed by the star, and thus, creating heat which generates the short afterglows in many wavelengths.
For images and continuing coverage of the discovery of this event, please visit http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/28apr_grbsmash.htm and www.spaceweather.com. Image from NASA.
Is this something that is spotted by accident? Such as cameras are set somewhere and they detected it?
Thanks for visiting cindy23 - This was spotted / alerted by the Swift Satellite, which has sensors and equipment that monitor and look for this type of activity.
Thanks for the reply!