Artist’s impression of a gamma-ray burst

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are powerful flashes of energetic gamma-rays lasting from less than a second to several minutes. They release a tremendous amount of energy in this short time making them the most powerful events in the Universe. They are thought to be mostly associated with the explosion of stars that collapse into black holes. In the explosion, two jets of very fast-moving material are ejected, as depicted in this artist’s illustration. If a jet happens to be aimed at Earth, we see a brief but powerful gamma-ray burst.

Credit:

ESO/A. Roquette

About the Image

Id:eso0917a
Type:Artwork
Release date:28 April 2009
Related releases:eso0917
Size:3500 x 2000 px

About the Object

Name:Gamma-ray burst
Type:Early Universe : Cosmology : Phenomenon : Gamma Ray Burst
Distance:z=8.2 (redshift)
Category:Cosmology
Illustrations

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