GRB 060218
Encyclopedia
GRB 060218 was a gamma-ray burst (abbreviated as GRB) with unusual characteristics never seen before. This GRB was detected by the Swift
satellite on February 18, 2006, and its name is derived from the date. It was located in the constellation
Aries
.
GRB 060218's duration (almost 2000 seconds) and its origin in a galaxy 440 million light years away are far longer and closer, respectively, than typical gamma-ray bursts seen before, and the burst was also considerably dimmer than average despite its close distance.
As of February 2006, the phenomenon was not yet well understood. However, an optical afterglow to the gamma-ray burst has been detected and is brightening, and some scientists believe that the appearance of a supernova
(SN 2006aj) may be ongoing.
Four different groups of researchers, led by Sergio Campana, Elena Pian, Alicia Soderberg, Paolo Mazzali respectively, carried out the investigation of the phenomenon and presented their results in Nature
magazine on August 31, 2006 They found the strongest evidence yet that supernovas and GRBs might be linked, because GRB 060218 showed signs of both the GRB and the supernova. The exploding star is believed to have had the boundary mass (about 20 Solar mass
es) for supernovas to leave either a black hole
or a neutron star
after its explosion.
Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission
The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission consists of a robotic spacecraft called Swift, which was launched into orbit on 20 November 2004, 17:16:00 UTC on a Delta II 7320-10C expendable launch vehicle. Swift is managed by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and was developed by an international...
satellite on February 18, 2006, and its name is derived from the date. It was located in the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
Aries
Aries (constellation)
Aries is one of the constellations of the zodiac, located between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east. Its name is Latin for ram, and its symbol is , representing a ram's horns...
.
GRB 060218's duration (almost 2000 seconds) and its origin in a galaxy 440 million light years away are far longer and closer, respectively, than typical gamma-ray bursts seen before, and the burst was also considerably dimmer than average despite its close distance.
As of February 2006, the phenomenon was not yet well understood. However, an optical afterglow to the gamma-ray burst has been detected and is brightening, and some scientists believe that the appearance of a supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
(SN 2006aj) may be ongoing.
Four different groups of researchers, led by Sergio Campana, Elena Pian, Alicia Soderberg, Paolo Mazzali respectively, carried out the investigation of the phenomenon and presented their results in Nature
Nature (journal)
Nature, first published on 4 November 1869, is ranked the world's most cited interdisciplinary scientific journal by the Science Edition of the 2010 Journal Citation Reports...
magazine on August 31, 2006 They found the strongest evidence yet that supernovas and GRBs might be linked, because GRB 060218 showed signs of both the GRB and the supernova. The exploding star is believed to have had the boundary mass (about 20 Solar mass
Solar mass
The solar mass , , is a standard unit of mass in astronomy, used to indicate the masses of other stars and galaxies...
es) for supernovas to leave either a black hole
Black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will deform spacetime to form a black hole. Around a black hole there is a mathematically defined surface called an event horizon that...
or a neutron star
Neutron star
A neutron star is a type of stellar remnant that can result from the gravitational collapse of a massive star during a Type II, Type Ib or Type Ic supernova event. Such stars are composed almost entirely of neutrons, which are subatomic particles without electrical charge and with a slightly larger...
after its explosion.
External links
- http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=19106
- http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060223_explosion.html
- http://skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1683_1.asp
- http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn8776.html
- http://sabbe.fragzone.se/KPO/grb060218.htm
- YahooNews
- Finder Charts for GRB 060218 shows the area of the sky prior to the incident.
- More NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
observational reports at the Burst Information (Current and Archives) - Simbad
- Image SN 2006aj