Cosmic Blasts

[FLO]

A cosmic explosion seen last February may have been the "tip of an iceberg," showing that powerful, distant gamma ray bursts are outnumbered ten-to-one by less-energetic cousins, according to an international team of astronomers.

A study of the explosion with X-ray and radio telescopes showed that it is "100 times less energetic than gamma ray bursts seen in the distant universe.

The explosion, called an X-ray flash, was detected by the Swift satellite on February 18. The astronomers subsequently studied the object using the National Science Foundation's Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the Ryle radio telescope in the UK.

The February blast seems to fill a gap between ordinary supernova explosions, which leave behind a dense neutron star, and gamma ray bursts, which leave behind a black hole, a concentration of mass so dense that not even light can escape it. Some X-ray flashes, the new research suggests, leave behind a magnetar, a neutron star with a magnetic field 100-1000 times stronger than that of an ordinary neutron star.

Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss

http://tinyurl.co.uk/1qi0

[Astroman]

Well, this one's all over the map, as is usual with Space.com.

There was indeed a very interesting GRB detected by SWIFT on February 18th. It was most unusual in that it lasted over 2000 seconds, a new record. It was relatively soft, hence the "x-ray flash" diagnosis, and it was close, "only" 450 million ly.

As I've said before, the "typical" GRB is either long duration and hard in radiation, OR short and soft. Long/hard bursts have been tied to supernova explosions. Short/soft bursts tied to neutron stars joining black holes or any combination therein.

A supernova can leave behind either a neutron star OR a black hole, depending on its mass at the time of its demise. It can also trigger a GRB, as stated before.

A magnetar is also called a "soft gamma repeater", since it has outbursts of soft gamma/hard x-rays. It isn't "left behind" by one of those events.

Cool picture, though. 8)

[FLO]

I must admit, I didn't realise thats where it came from.

I remember your previous comments about their articles and haven't posted any since....

Thanks for clarifying AM

[Astroman]

No problem.

You know, they mean well, and they want to reach as many people as possible. There's so much out there to grasp, so they shoot for the lowest common denominator, but in doing so, they lose most of the facts, unfortunately. I really do wish they'd do better, since typing in "Space.com" seems so intuitive to find out stuff. Kind of a bummer, really.

[Jamie]

Sorry Steve.........

[Astroman]

It's still a cool picture. 8)

[FLO]

Sorry Steve.........

Like AM says, its a cool picture