Media Information
 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection
Title:
Gamma-Ray Burst: A Milestone Explosion
Explanation:
Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) were discovered [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] by accident. Thirty three years ago today, satellites first recorded a GRB [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…jbonnell/www/grbhist .html#firstburst ]. The data plotted here show that the count rate of the satellite gamma-ray instrument abruptly jumped [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] indicating a sudden flash of gamma-rays. The Vela satellites [ http://leonardo.jpl…] that detected this and other GRBs were developed to test technology to monitor nuclear test ban treaties [ http://www.state.go…]. With on board sensors they watched [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] for brief x-ray [ http://imagine.gsfc…history_xray.html ] and gamma-ray [ http://imagine.gsfc…history_gamma.html ] flashes, the telltale signatures of nuclear [ http://www.em.doe.g…] explosions. As intended, the Velas found flashes of gamma-rays - but not from nuclear detonations near Earth. Instead, the flashes were determined to come from deep space! Dubbed "cosmic gamma-ray bursts" [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] they are now known [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…debate_1995.html ] to be the most powerful explosions originating in distant galaxies. What could power a gamma-ray burst [ http://www.sciam.co…0797fishman.html ]?
Credit and Copyright:
R. Klebesadel, I. Strong & R. Olson (LANL [ http://www.lanl.gov…]), Vela Project [ http://heasarc.gsfc…]
keyword:
gamma-ray
keyword:
gamma-ray burst
keyword:
vela satellite
facet_where:
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
facet_where:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where:
Washington, D.C.
facet_what:
Earth
facet_what:
Vela
facet_what:
MSL
facet_what:
gamma-ray
original url:
http://antwrp.gsfc.…
UID:
SPD-APOD-ap000702

Gamma-Ray Burst: A Milestone Explosion
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