WikiVisually
The entire wiki reimagined as a visual magazine with video discovery · Watch your interests come alive
WikiVisually
The entire wiki reimagined as a visual magazine with video discovery · Watch your interests come alive
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Gamma-ray burst
Videos
In gamma-ray astronomy, gamma-ray bursts are extremely energetic events occurring in distant galaxies that represent the brightest and most powerful class of explosion in the Universe. These extreme e
Artist's illustration showing the life of a massive star: Nuclear fusion converts lighter elements into heavier ones; when fusion no longer generates
Artist's illustration showing the life of a massive star: Nuclear fusion converts lighter elements into heavier ones; when fusion no longer generates enough pressure to counteract gravity, the star collapses into a black hole. During this collapse, energy may be released as a momentary burst of gamma-rays aligned to the axis of rotation.
Positions on the sky of all gamma-ray bursts detected during the BATSE mission. The distribution is isotropic, with no concentration towards the plane
Positions on the sky of all gamma-ray bursts detected during the BATSE mission. The distribution is isotropic, with no concentration towards the plane of the Milky Way, which runs horizontally through the center of the image.
The Italian–Dutch satellite BeppoSAX, launched in April 1996, provided the first accurate positions of gamma-ray bursts, allowing follow-up observatio
The Italian–Dutch satellite BeppoSAX, launched in April 1996, provided the first accurate positions of gamma-ray bursts, allowing follow-up observations and identification of the sources.
NASA's Swift Spacecraft launched in November 2004
NASA's Swift Spacecraft launched in November 2004
Magnetar
Videos
A magnetar is a type of neutron star with an extremely powerful magnetic field. The magnetic-field decay powers the emission of high-energy electromagnetic radiation, particularly X-rays and gamma ray
Gamma-ray burst
…recorded history have originated from outside the Milky Way galaxy, although a related class of phenomena, soft gamma repeaters, are associated with magnetars within our galaxy. A gamma-ray burst in the Milky Way pointed directly at Earth would likely sterilize the planet or cause a mass extinction. The Late…
Artist's conception of a powerful magnetar in a star cluster
Artist's conception of a powerful magnetar in a star cluster
Infographic of Different Neutron Star Types produced by JPL (24 June 2020), describing magnetars (left), pulsars, and neutron stars with the qualities
Infographic of Different Neutron Star Types produced by JPL (24 June 2020), describing magnetars (left), pulsars, and neutron stars with the qualities of both (right)
Magnetar SGR 1900+14 (center of image) showing a surrounding ring of gas 7 light-years across in infrared light, as seen by the Spitzer Space Telescop
Magnetar SGR 1900+14 (center of image) showing a surrounding ring of gas 7 light-years across in infrared light, as seen by the Spitzer Space Telescope. The magnetar itself is not visible at this wavelength but has been seen in X-ray light.
Artist's impression of a gamma-ray burst and supernova powered by a magnetar
Artist's impression of a gamma-ray burst and supernova powered by a magnetar