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| Space scientists reveal brightest gamma explosion ever | Space scientists reveal brightest gamma explosion ever |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Satellites captured images of how the gamma blast lit up dust rings in space | Satellites captured images of how the gamma blast lit up dust rings in space |
| Scientists have revealed how Nasa satellites detected the brightest ever gamma ray explosion in space. | Scientists have revealed how Nasa satellites detected the brightest ever gamma ray explosion in space. |
| The gamma-ray burst (GRB) occurred two billion lightyears from Earth and illuminated much of the galaxy. | The gamma-ray burst (GRB) occurred two billion lightyears from Earth and illuminated much of the galaxy. |
| Images of the rare and powerful cosmic phenomenon show a halo and "bullseye" like shapes. | Images of the rare and powerful cosmic phenomenon show a halo and "bullseye" like shapes. |
| Experts, including academics from the University of Leicester, say the GRB was 10 times brighter than any other previously detected. | |
| They have released detailed analysis of the powerful explosion that was spotted on 9 October, 2022. | |
| The blast was officially named GRB 221009A but has been nicknamed the BOAT - Brightest Of All Time - by those working on a mission Nasa calls Swift. | The blast was officially named GRB 221009A but has been nicknamed the BOAT - Brightest Of All Time - by those working on a mission Nasa calls Swift. |
| The images captured by the Swift team have shown unprecedented details of GRBs | The images captured by the Swift team have shown unprecedented details of GRBs |
| X-ray astronomer Dr Phil Evans, who leads the University of Leicester's involvement in Swift, said: "We were really lucky to see something like this. We estimate that events this bright occur roughly once every thousand years. | X-ray astronomer Dr Phil Evans, who leads the University of Leicester's involvement in Swift, said: "We were really lucky to see something like this. We estimate that events this bright occur roughly once every thousand years. |
| "By studying the evolution of this astonishingly bright GRB in great detail, we can learn a lot about the physics of a blast wave. | "By studying the evolution of this astonishingly bright GRB in great detail, we can learn a lot about the physics of a blast wave. |
| "Just like slow-mo cameras reveal details about movement, breaking our data into small time pieces allows us to see how the GRB changes and learn more." | "Just like slow-mo cameras reveal details about movement, breaking our data into small time pieces allows us to see how the GRB changes and learn more." |
| The Swift team said its Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a satellite telescope designed to study GRBs from space, was initially unable to observe the burst because the Earth was obstructing its view. | The Swift team said its Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a satellite telescope designed to study GRBs from space, was initially unable to observe the burst because the Earth was obstructing its view. |
| However 55 minutes later, when the satellite's orbit allowed it to have a clear view of the GRB, its systems successfully detected it and created images of it. | However 55 minutes later, when the satellite's orbit allowed it to have a clear view of the GRB, its systems successfully detected it and created images of it. |
| What are gamma ray bursts? | What are gamma ray bursts? |
| Gamma ray bursts are the most violent explosions in the universe, releasing more energy than the Sun would in 10 billion years. | Gamma ray bursts are the most violent explosions in the universe, releasing more energy than the Sun would in 10 billion years. |
| They result from cataclysmic supernova explosions as massive stars die. | They result from cataclysmic supernova explosions as massive stars die. |
| The first GRB was discovered in the late 1960s by a satellite looking for Soviet violations of the nuclear test ban treaty, and since then thousands have been seen by different satellites. | |
| Source: University of Leicester | Source: University of Leicester |
| Dr Andy Beadmore, who is also part of the Swift team at the University of Leicester, said: "These patterns are not just beautiful but are also useful scientifically. | Dr Andy Beadmore, who is also part of the Swift team at the University of Leicester, said: "These patterns are not just beautiful but are also useful scientifically. |
| "We're seeing a significant amount of dust in our galaxy being lit up by the intense burst of light from the GRB - two billion lightyears away - like a torch shining through a cloud. | "We're seeing a significant amount of dust in our galaxy being lit up by the intense burst of light from the GRB - two billion lightyears away - like a torch shining through a cloud. |
| "This lets us study its nature and composition, which was found to extend to large distances from the Sun. | "This lets us study its nature and composition, which was found to extend to large distances from the Sun. |
| "The brightness of this GRB means that we can collect much better data than normal, and so move beyond simple models of the GRB physics that we normally use - they just can't explain these data." | "The brightness of this GRB means that we can collect much better data than normal, and so move beyond simple models of the GRB physics that we normally use - they just can't explain these data." |
| 'Beautiful halo' | 'Beautiful halo' |
| Dr Evans added: "Even after 18 years of operation, Swift can still surprise us with something unexpected, awesome, and scientifically powerful, and it can still challenge us. | Dr Evans added: "Even after 18 years of operation, Swift can still surprise us with something unexpected, awesome, and scientifically powerful, and it can still challenge us. |
| "Those dust rings may look pretty but they gave us some headaches, they really complicated the data analysis. | "Those dust rings may look pretty but they gave us some headaches, they really complicated the data analysis. |
| "Even with those complications, though, this event gives us an opportunity to study a GRB in unprecedented detail. | "Even with those complications, though, this event gives us an opportunity to study a GRB in unprecedented detail. |
| "Then there's the beautiful dust halo that Andy discovered. | "Then there's the beautiful dust halo that Andy discovered. |
| "This is caused by massive clouds of dust in our galaxy — but it's the light from the GRB, around two billion lightyears away — that's actually revealed those clouds to us. | "This is caused by massive clouds of dust in our galaxy — but it's the light from the GRB, around two billion lightyears away — that's actually revealed those clouds to us. |
| "Now, we can measure their distance and their composition using this GRB 'backlight'. | "Now, we can measure their distance and their composition using this GRB 'backlight'. |
| "This discovery is a testament to the power of careful observation and the potential of serendipitous discoveries. | "This discovery is a testament to the power of careful observation and the potential of serendipitous discoveries. |
| "I'm thrilled that our team was able to contribute to our understanding of the universe in such a meaningful way." | "I'm thrilled that our team was able to contribute to our understanding of the universe in such a meaningful way." |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Leicester | Leicester |
| Space | Space |