Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


17

Farthest-Ever Star Blast From Ancient Cosmos

Gamma ray burst took 13 billion years to reach Earth

Share

(Newser) – Astronomers have detected a cosmic object more distant than any ever seen: a gamma ray burst about 13 billion light-years from Earth. The massive, luminous burst occurred about 600 million years after the Big Bang—that is, when the universe was 4% of its current age—and only lasted for about 12 seconds. Scientists say the ancient burst allows an unprecedented view into the earliest days of the universe.

A gamma ray blast takes place when a star dies, collapsing in on itself to form a huge black hole and releasing massive amounts of energy. Two independent groups of astronomers observed the blast, which was first detected by a NASA satellite, reports National Geographic. "This is the last blank bit of the map of the universe: the time between the Big Bang and the formation of these early galaxies," said one of the astronomers.

An artist's rendering of a gamma-ray burst. A burst 13 billion light-years away is the furthest object from Earth yet observed.
An artist's rendering of a gamma-ray burst. A burst 13 billion light-years away is the furthest object from Earth yet observed.   (Wikimedia)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
17 comments
VIEWING:
 
Stasis
Oct 29, 09 8:21 AM CDT
Junk science. Scientists are liberal a-holes who want to kill children with shanks made from dead puppy bones... Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-18
IN RESPONSE:
Face-Of-RNC
Oct 29, 09 8:27 AM CDT
And you are worthless today.
Vote up! Vote down!
+10
IN RESPONSE:
cochiserocks
Oct 29, 09 9:03 AM CDT
Easy tiger. Explaining how the trick is done doesn't mean they're claiming to understand who did it or why.
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
IN RESPONSE:
myvoice
Oct 29, 09 9:21 AM CDT
but you cant reason with dumb asses cochise! People who flat out deny science are exactly that... dumb asses!
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Oct 29, 09 9:24 AM CDT
It is hard to detect your sarcasm, Stasis.
Vote up! Vote down!
+6

View all 17 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

29 Stories

(Newser) - A monstrous black hole near the center of a distant galaxy is sucking up stars, gas and dust, and spitting out baby stars, NASA scientists have discovered. The black hole is 100 million times the mass of the sun, reports the Telegraph. It lies at the center of a galaxy... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • space • star • sun • black hole • universe • galaxy • space telescope

(Newser) - NASA pulled the recently upgraded Hubble space telescope out of testing yesterday to take a photo of the Earth-sized impact scar on Jupiter, CNN reports. “Because we believe this magnitude of impact is rare, we are very fortunate to see it with Hubble,” a NASA scientist says. “... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • astronomy • Jupiter • space travel • comet • Hubble Space Telescope

OPINION

Despite Its Faults (and Costs), Hubble Remains Crucial

Pricey telescope enhances our understanding of space

May 21, 09 1:07 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Hubble Space Telescope has expanded our knowledge of black holes, so it’s ironic that critics complain the $9.6 billion device is sucking up money and energy that could be shifted to other programs. But, on CNET, Don Reisinger defends the telescope as earthlings’ best shot at unlocking... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NASA • astronomy • space • telescope • space telescope • Hubble Space Telescope

29 Stories


Science & Health 
TwitterFollow @NewserScience on Twitter

 
NASA • astronomy • star • Big Bang • universe • gamma rays

from our news partners