* Astronomy

Members Login

Post Info

TOPIC: SGR J1550-5418

Blobrana

L

Posts: 131433

Date: Feb 11 20:05 2009

RE: SGR J1550-5418	Permalink

One of the most dramatic - and violent - reality shows is unfolding not on TV, but 30,000 light-years away in the constellation Norma. There is a corpse, the remains of a truly gigantic star with 40 times or more mass than our sun, but it is hardly at rest. In a resurrection that has captivated the astronomical community, the body, known as SGR J1550-5418, is periodically showering the cosmos with blasts of radiation encompassing every highway of the electromagnetic spectrum from gamma rays to radio waves. Read more __________________

Blobrana

L

Posts: 131433

Date: Feb 10 17:53 2009

	Permalink
Astronomers using NASA's Swift satellite and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope are seeing frequent blasts from a stellar remnant 30,000 light-years away. The high-energy fireworks arise from a rare type of neutron star known as a soft-gamma-ray repeater. Such objects unpredictably send out a series of X-ray and gamma-ray flares. Read more __________________

Page 1 of 1 sorted by

Soft Gamma Repeater

Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse