Artist’s impression of a gamma-ray burst and supernova powered by a magnetar

This artist’s impression shows a supernova and associated gamma-ray burst driven by a rapidly spinning neutron star with a very strong magnetic field — an exotic object known as a magnetar. Observations from ESO’s La Silla and Paranal Observatories in Chile have for the first time demonstrated a link between a very long-lasting burst of gamma rays and an unusually bright supernova explosion. The results show that the supernova following the burst GRB 111209A was not driven by radioactive decay, as expected, but was instead powered by the decaying super-strong magnetic fields around a magnetar.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso1527a
Type:Artwork
Release date:8 July 2015, 19:00
Related releases:eso1527
Size:3276 x 3276 px

About the Object

Type:Early Universe : Cosmology : Phenomenon : Gamma Ray Burst
Category:Illustrations

Image Formats

Large JPEG
1.0 MB
Screensize JPEG
169.9 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
164.2 KB
1280x1024
234.0 KB
1600x1200
298.6 KB
1920x1200
326.6 KB
2048x1536
421.6 KB