Ultraluminous Gamma Ray Burst 080607 – A "Monster in the Dark"
2 Sep 2010, 23:05 UTC
Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are among the most energetic phenomenon astronomers regularly observe. These events are triggered by massive explosions and a large amount of the energy if focused into narrow beams that sweep across the universe. These beams are so tightly concentrated that they can be seen across the visible universe and allow astronomers [...]
Shedding Light on Dark Gamma Ray BurstsGamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are among the most energetic phenomenon astronomers regularly observe. These events are triggered by massive explosions and a large amount of the energy if focused into narrow beams that sweep across the universe. These beams are so tightly concentrated that they can be seen across the visible universe and allow astronomers to probe the universe's history. If such an event happened in our galaxy and we stood in the path of the beam, the effects would be pronounced and may lead to large extinctions. Yet one of the most energetic GRBs on record (GRB 080607) was shrouded in cloud of gas and dust dimming the blast by a factor of 20 – 200, depending on the wavelength. Despite this strong veil, the GRB was still bright enough to be detected by small optical telescopes ...
