A massive gamma-ray burst that was detected on October 9. We know detailed science papers will be coming in the near future. For now, here is what we know: a wave of high energy light – X-rays and gamma rays – swept across the detectors of Fermi, Swift, Wind, and NICER. Telescopes around the work quickly turned to the source, and imaging revealed a fast-fading point of light shining from what we assume was a star dying 1.9 billion years ago. In the grand scheme of the universe, 1.9 billion light-years away is right next door, and the images captured in the ten hours after the first detection are going to reveal never-before-seen details to serve as a check on our models of how gamma-ray bursts should behave.

And this wasn’t any gamma-ray burst. According to Roberta Pillera, a Fermi-LAT collaboration member: …it’s also among the most energetic and luminous bursts ever seen regardless of distance, making it doubly exciting.

I really look forward to all the new science this high-energy event is going to bring us, and when it is published, we’ll bring it to you here at the Daily Space.

More Information

NASA Goddard press release