Astronomers have just detected the most powerful cosmic explosion, or Gamma-ray burst, ever
recorded.
Gamma-ray bursts or GRBs are the strongest and brightest explosions in the known universe.
They are typically generated by supernovae, or when black holes or neutron stars collide.
These incredibly energetic bursts usually last mere seconds but they have the power
to produce as much energy as the Sun will emit during its entire 10-billion-year existence.
Early morning, on 14 October, 2022, astronomers using the Gemini South telescope in Chile
observed the aftermath of what might be the most powerful explosion ever detected, designated
GRB221009A.
When a GRB erupts, it is quickly the brightest source of cosmic gamma-ray photons in the
observable universe.
The new-found GRB was likely caused by the implosion of a massive star, more than 30
times the mass of our sun, which collapsed and gave birth to a new black hole.
The event was 10-100 times brighter than typical gamma-ray bursts, and we probably won't find
such a powerful explosion for another century.
It took the energetic waves from the supernova 2.4 billion years to reach Earth.
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Back to the topic.
The powerful gamma-ray burst occurred about 2.4 billion light-years away in the direction
of the Sagitta constellation.
The explosion was initially detected on 9 October 2022 by orbiting X-ray and gamma-ray
telescopes, such as NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory,
and the Wind spacecraft.
Astronomers are already calling this burst the BOAT, or Brightest Of All Time, because
it stands apart from other observed GRBs.
When a gamma-ray burst reaches Earth, it interacts with the Earth's upper atmosphere and lower
ionosphere depositing its energy and ionizing atoms and molecules, meaning removing electrons
from them.
The effects are somewhat similar to those of solar flares.
Massive stars burn their fuel supply faster.
The most massive stars can burn out and go supernova after only a few million years of
fusion.
For comparison, our Sun can fuse hydrogen for about 10 billion years.
When such a massive star burns up its fuel, it goes supernova, blows away its outer layers,
and its core collapses into a black hole.
Gas from the ejected material falls into the newly formed black hole, and this creates
a powerful jet.
This outflow moves at 99.99 percent the speed of light and generates gamma-ray bursts.
Gemini telescope will be able to observe the optical counterparts of the new-found GRB
at much later times than most ground-based telescopes can observe.
This will help scientists know what caused this GRB to be so uniquely bright and powerful.
Studying such powerful events can boost our knowledge about the collapse of stars and
the formation of black holes, how matter interacts near the speed of light, and what conditions
may be like in distant galaxies.