Powerful gamma-ray burst was aimed at Earth
Posted: Fri, Sep 12, 2008, 7:31 AM ET (1131 GMT)
A powerful gamma-ray burst detected earlier this year that created an afterglow briefly visible to the naked eye was aimed almost directly towards the Earth, scientists said this week. The burst, GRB 080319B, took place on March 19th and was detected by NASA's Swift spacecraft and several other satellites, and produced an optical afterglow that reached magnitude 5.3, despite being 7.5 billion light-years away. Scientists analyzing space- and ground-based observations found that the bursts's brightness came from a central narrow jet consisting of material traveling at 99.99995 percent the speed of light, aimed almost directly towards the Earth. Astronomers said they normally only see a wider, somewhat less energetic jet from such bursts, and don't know if all GRBs have a such a narrow, intense central jet.
A powerful gamma-ray burst detected earlier this year that created an afterglow briefly visible to the naked eye was aimed almost directly towards the Earth, scientists said this week. The burst, GRB 080319B, took place on March 19th and was detected by NASA's Swift spacecraft and several other satellites, and produced an optical afterglow that reached magnitude 5.3, despite being 7.5 billion light-years away. Scientists analyzing space- and ground-based observations found that the bursts's brightness came from a central narrow jet consisting of material traveling at 99.99995 percent the speed of light, aimed almost directly towards the Earth. Astronomers said they normally only see a wider, somewhat less energetic jet from such bursts, and don't know if all GRBs have a such a narrow, intense central jet.
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Thursday, December 4
Starlink launches in Korea with focus on ships, planes
Korea Herald — 6:16 am ET (1116 GMT) Starlink unveils internet plans for Korea, announces supply agreements with three enterprises
JoongAng Daily — 6:15 am ET (1115 GMT) Starlink launches service in South Korea, offers residential plan at 87,000 won
Chosun Ilbo — 6:15 am ET (1115 GMT) Second SpaceX launch this week to liftoff Thursday morning from Vandenberg SFB
Lompoc Record — 6:14 am ET (1114 GMT) SpaceX set to launch Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Thursday
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 6:13 am ET (1113 GMT) |
