Cosmoview Episode 31: Astronomers Uncover Briefest Supernova-Powered Gamma-Ray Burst (VIDEO)

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)

Caption

Using the Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i, astronomers identified the cause of a surprisingly short burst of gamma rays. The source was a supernova explosion, which usually produces a long gamma-ray burst (GRB). Astronomers now think that this and many other short GRBs are actually supernova-produced GRBs in disguise. They suspect these GRBs look shorter because their gamma-ray jets aren’t strong enough to completely escape the collapsing star.

Credit

Images and Videos: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. da Silva/NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Image Processing: M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab) Music: Stellardrone - Airglow

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