Artist's impression of a dark gamma-ray burst

This artist’s impression shows a dark gamma-ray burst in a star forming region. Gamma-ray bursts are among the most energetic events in the Universe, but some appear curiously faint in visible light. The biggest study of these dark gamma-ray bursts to date, using the GROND instrument on the 2.2-metre MPG/ESO telescope at La Silla in Chile, has found that these gigantic explosions, while puzzling, don't require exotic explanations. Their faintness is now fully explained by a combination of causes with the most important being the presence of dust between the Earth and the explosion.

Credit:

ESO/L. Calçada

About the Image

Id:eso1049a
Type:Artwork
Release date:16 December 2010, 12:00
Related releases:eso1049
Size:9000 x 6750 px

About the Object

Name:Gamma-ray burst
Type:Early Universe : Cosmology : Phenomenon : Gamma Ray Burst
Category:Cosmology
Illustrations

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BandTelescope
MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
GROND