List of gamma-ray bursts
Encyclopedia
The following is a list of significant gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) listed in chronological order. GRBs are named after the date on which they were detected: the first two numbers correspond to the year, the second two numbers to the month, and the last two numbers to the day.

List

Burst Position Redshift
Redshift
In physics , redshift happens when light seen coming from an object is proportionally increased in wavelength, or shifted to the red end of the spectrum...

 
Detected by Notes
GRB 670702  Vela 4
Project Vela
Project Vela was a project by the United States to develop and implement methods to monitor compliance with the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty. The development work was primarily performed by the Advanced Research Projects Agency and was overseen by the United States Air Force.Project Vela consisted...

 
First GRB detected
GRB 790305b  The first observed SGR megaflare, a specific type of short GRB.
GRB 970228
GRB 970228
GRB 970228 was the first gamma-ray burst for which an afterglow was observed. It was detected on 28 February 1997 at 02:58 UTC. Since 1993, physicists had predicted GRBs to be followed by a lower-energy afterglow , but until this event, GRBs had only been observed in highly luminous bursts of...

 
z = 0.695Bloom 2001 BeppoSAX
BeppoSAX
BeppoSAX was an Italian–Dutch satellite for X-ray astronomy which played a crucial role in resolving the origin of gamma-ray bursts , the most energetic events known in the universe...

 
First X-ray afterglow, first optical afterglow
GRB 970402  RA
Right ascension
Right ascension is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. The other coordinate is the declination.-Explanation:...

 
Dec
Declination
In astronomy, declination is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. Declination in astronomy is comparable to geographic latitude, but projected onto the celestial sphere. Declination is measured in degrees north and...

 
BeppoSAX
BeppoSAX
BeppoSAX was an Italian–Dutch satellite for X-ray astronomy which played a crucial role in resolving the origin of gamma-ray bursts , the most energetic events known in the universe...

 
From an X-ray source never seen before 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....

 Circinus.Antonelli
GRB 970508
GRB 970508
GRB 970508 was a gamma-ray burst detected on May 8, 1997, at 21:42 UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived...

 
z = 0.835 BeppoSAX
BeppoSAX
BeppoSAX was an Italian–Dutch satellite for X-ray astronomy which played a crucial role in resolving the origin of gamma-ray bursts , the most energetic events known in the universe...

 
First redshift, first radio afterglow
GRB 971214
GRB 971214
GRB 971214 is a gamma-ray burst observed in 1997. It originated 12 billion light years away. For a brief period this was thought by some researchers to have been the most energetic event observed in the universe, but this claim has since been discredited.In 1998, it was hypothesized by George...

 
z = 3.4 BATSE The first GRB at z
Redshift
In physics , redshift happens when light seen coming from an object is proportionally increased in wavelength, or shifted to the red end of the spectrum...

 > 1; the most luminous of the earliest few GRBs.
GRB 980425
GRB 980425
GRB 980425 was a gamma-ray burst that was detected on 25 April 1998 at 21:49 UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived...

 
z = 0.008Tinney 1998 BATSE  The closest GRB to date and the first associated with a supernova.
GRB 990123
GRB 990123
GRB 990123 is a gamma-ray burst that occurred on January 23, 1999. It was the first GRB for which a simultaneous optical flash was detected. GRB 990123 is one of the most distant distinct landmarks in our map of the universe....

 
R.A.
Right ascension
Right ascension is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. The other coordinate is the declination.-Explanation:...

 
Decl.
Declination
In astronomy, declination is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. Declination in astronomy is comparable to geographic latitude, but projected onto the celestial sphere. Declination is measured in degrees north and...

 Odewahn 1999
z = 1.6 BeppoSAX
BeppoSAX
BeppoSAX was an Italian–Dutch satellite for X-ray astronomy which played a crucial role in resolving the origin of gamma-ray bursts , the most energetic events known in the universe...

 
First burst observed simultaneously in optical and gamma-rays. Brightest observed afterglow before the launch of Swift.
GRB 991216  BATSE  First burst detected by the Chandra X-ray Observatory
Chandra X-ray Observatory
The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a satellite launched on STS-93 by NASA on July 23, 1999. It was named in honor of Indian-American physicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar who is known for determining the maximum mass for white dwarfs. "Chandra" also means "moon" or "luminous" in Sanskrit.Chandra...

GRB 030329
GRB 030329
GRB 030329 was a gamma-ray burst that was detected on 29 March 2003 at 11:37 UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived...

 
z = 0.168Caldwell 2003 HETE-2  The closest "classical" long GRB to Earth and the most thoroughly studied afterglow to date.
GRB 050509B
GRB 050509b
GRB 050509B was a gamma ray burst observed by the NASA Swift satellite on May 9, 2005. It was the first short duration GRB for which an accurate positional measurement was made, accurate enough to locate it near to an elliptical galaxy lying at a redshift of 0.225.The significance of this finding...

 
z = 0.225 Swift
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...

 
First short burst with a detected afterglow and a possible host galaxy (not unique).
GRB 050709
GRB 050709
GRB 050709 was a gamma-ray burst detected on July 9, 2005. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash of gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, which is often followed by a longer-lived "afterglow" emitting at longer wavelengths .- Observations :GRB 050709 was detected...

 
z = 0.161Price 2005 HETE-2  First short burst with a detected optical counterpart.
GRB 050724  z = 0.258Berger 2005 Swift
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...

 
First short burst with a detected radio, optical, and X-ray counterpart, as well as an unambiguous association with an elliptical galaxy.
GRB 060218
GRB 060218
GRB 060218 was a gamma-ray burst 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...

 
z = 0.0331Mirabal 2006 Swift
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...

 
First GRB with an accompanying supernova which could be tracked starting immediately after the burst.
GRB 060614
GRB 060614
GRB 060614 was a remarkable gamma-ray burst detected by the Swift satellite on June 14, 2006 with puzzling properties, which challenge current progenitor models....

 
R.A. 
Decl. 
z = 0.125 Swift
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...

 
Either a long-duration burst in which the presence of a bright supernova is ruled out, or a short-duration burst with extremely long-lasting gamma-ray emission.
GRB 080319B
GRB 080319B
GRB 080319B was a remarkable gamma-ray burst detected by the Swift satellite at 06:12 UTC on March 19, 2008. The burst set a new record for the farthest object that could be seen with the naked eye; it had a peak apparent magnitude of 5.8 and remained visible to human eyes for approximately 30...

 
z = 0.937 Swift
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...

 
The most (optically) luminous event of any nature observed in the universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...

 to date. By far the brightest optical afterglow of any gamma-ray burst.
GRB 080916C
GRB 080916C
GRB 080916C is a gamma-ray burst that was recorded on September 16, 2008 in the Carina constellation and detected by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. It was the most powerful gamma-ray burst ever recorded...

 
z = 4.35Greiner 2009 Fermi  The most energetic gamma-ray burst observed to date.
GRB 090423
GRB 090423
GRB 090423 is a gamma-ray burst detected by the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission on April 23, 2009 at 07:55:19 UTC. The afterglow of GRB 090423 was detected in the infrared, and allowed astronomers to determine that the redshift of GRB 090423 is z = 8.2, which makes GRB 090423 the second...

 
R.A.
Right ascension
Right ascension is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. The other coordinate is the declination.-Explanation:...

 
Decl.
Declination
In astronomy, declination is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. Declination in astronomy is comparable to geographic latitude, but projected onto the celestial sphere. Declination is measured in degrees north and...

 
z = 8.2 Swift
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...

 
Current record holder for most distant observed object in the universe, as well as the second most distant object of any kind.Reddy 2009

Extremes

GRB Extremes
Title GRB Data Notes
Least distant GRB 980425
GRB 980425
GRB 980425 was a gamma-ray burst that was detected on 25 April 1998 at 21:49 UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived...

z = 0.0085
Most distant GRB 090429B
GRB 090429B
GRB 090429B was a gamma-ray burst first detected on 29 April 2009, the second detected that day. Though this burst was detected in 2009, it was not until 2011 that its distance was announced, have a redshift of z=9.4, becoming the most distant GRB known in May 2011, usurping GRB 090423.On 2009...

z = 9.4
Least Luminous
Most Luminous GRB 080916C
GRB 080916C
GRB 080916C is a gamma-ray burst that was recorded on September 16, 2008 in the Carina constellation and detected by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. It was the most powerful gamma-ray burst ever recorded...

Eiso = 8.8 × 1054 erg
Longest duration GRB 110328A
GRB 110328A
GRB 110328A is the longest lasting gamma-ray burst detected by the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission on March 28, 2011. The explosion occurred in the center of small galaxy in the Draco constellation, about 3.8 billion years ago....

Duration = months, perhaps a year
Shortest duration GRB 820405 Duration = 12 ms
Most distant naked-eye GRB GRB 080319B
GRB 080319B
GRB 080319B was a remarkable gamma-ray burst detected by the Swift satellite at 06:12 UTC on March 19, 2008. The burst set a new record for the farthest object that could be seen with the naked eye; it had a peak apparent magnitude of 5.8 and remained visible to human eyes for approximately 30...

Apparent magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...

: 5.7
z=0.937
Closest naked-eye GRB

Firsts

GRB Firsts
Title GRB Date Data Notes
First GRB detected GRB 670702 1967 July 2
First GRB identified
First long duration GRB discovered
First short duration GRB discovered
First hard spectrum GRB discovered
First soft spectrum GRB discovered
First GRB whose distance was determined GRB 970508
GRB 970508
GRB 970508 was a gamma-ray burst detected on May 8, 1997, at 21:42 UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived...

z=0.835
First GRB discovered with a radio afterglow GRB 970508
GRB 970508
GRB 970508 was a gamma-ray burst detected on May 8, 1997, at 21:42 UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived...

First GRB discovered with an optical afterglow GRB 970228
GRB 970228
GRB 970228 was the first gamma-ray burst for which an afterglow was observed. It was detected on 28 February 1997 at 02:58 UTC. Since 1993, physicists had predicted GRBs to be followed by a lower-energy afterglow , but until this event, GRBs had only been observed in highly luminous bursts of...

February 28, 1997 02:58 UTC
First GRB discovered with an X-ray afterglow GRB 780506
First GRB linked to a supernova GRB 980425
GRB 980425
GRB 980425 was a gamma-ray burst that was detected on 25 April 1998 at 21:49 UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived...

25 April 1998 21:49 UTC SN 1998bw
SN 1998bw
SN 1998bw was a rare type I/Ib gamma ray supernova detected on 26 April 1998 in the ESO 184-G82 spiral galaxy, which some astronomers believe may be an example of a collapsar. The supernova has been linked to GRB 980425, which was detected on 25 April 1998, the first time a gamma-ray burst has...

GRB 030329
GRB 030329
GRB 030329 was a gamma-ray burst that was detected on 29 March 2003 at 11:37 UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived...

 definitively linked SNe with GRBs, being associated with the hypernova SN 2003dh 
First GRB of naked-eye strength GRB 080319B
GRB 080319B
GRB 080319B was a remarkable gamma-ray burst detected by the Swift satellite at 06:12 UTC on March 19, 2008. The burst set a new record for the farthest object that could be seen with the naked eye; it had a peak apparent magnitude of 5.8 and remained visible to human eyes for approximately 30...

2008 March 19 06:12 UTC Apparent magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...

: 5.7
The first GRB bright enough to be visible to amateur astronomers with low powered scopes was GRB 990123
GRB 990123
GRB 990123 is a gamma-ray burst that occurred on January 23, 1999. It was the first GRB for which a simultaneous optical flash was detected. GRB 990123 is one of the most distant distinct landmarks in our map of the universe....

 at magnitude 9

Most distant GRB

GRBs z>6
GRB Distance Notes
GRB 090429B
GRB 090429B
GRB 090429B was a gamma-ray burst first detected on 29 April 2009, the second detected that day. Though this burst was detected in 2009, it was not until 2011 that its distance was announced, have a redshift of z=9.4, becoming the most distant GRB known in May 2011, usurping GRB 090423.On 2009...

z=9.4
GRB 090423
GRB 090423
GRB 090423 is a gamma-ray burst detected by the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission on April 23, 2009 at 07:55:19 UTC. The afterglow of GRB 090423 was detected in the infrared, and allowed astronomers to determine that the redshift of GRB 090423 is z = 8.2, which makes GRB 090423 the second...

z=8.2
GRB 080913
GRB 080913
GRB 080913 was a gamma-ray burst observed on September 13, 2008. The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst satellite made the detection, with follow-up and additional observations from ground-based observatories and instruments, including the Gamma-Ray Burst Optical/Near-Infrared Detector and the Very Large...

z=6.7
GRB 060116 z=6.60
GRB 050904
GRB 050904
GRB 050904 is one of the most distant events ever observed.This gamma ray burst occurred in the constellation Pisces.The bright γ-ray flash, lasting about 200 seconds, was detected on September 4, 2005 by the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission....

z=6.295

GRBs z>6 are used to explore the reionization era


Most Distant GRB Titleholders
GRB Date Distance Notes
GRB 090429B
GRB 090429B
GRB 090429B was a gamma-ray burst first detected on 29 April 2009, the second detected that day. Though this burst was detected in 2009, it was not until 2011 that its distance was announced, have a redshift of z=9.4, becoming the most distant GRB known in May 2011, usurping GRB 090423.On 2009...

May 2011 — z=9.4 The GRB was observed in 2009, however its distance was not announced until 2011.
GRB 090423
GRB 090423
GRB 090423 is a gamma-ray burst detected by the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission on April 23, 2009 at 07:55:19 UTC. The afterglow of GRB 090423 was detected in the infrared, and allowed astronomers to determine that the redshift of GRB 090423 is z = 8.2, which makes GRB 090423 the second...

April 2009 — May 2011 z=8.2 This was the first GRB to become the most distant object in the universe.
GRB 080913
GRB 080913
GRB 080913 was a gamma-ray burst observed on September 13, 2008. The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst satellite made the detection, with follow-up and additional observations from ground-based observatories and instruments, including the Gamma-Ray Burst Optical/Near-Infrared Detector and the Very Large...

September 2008 — April 2009 z=6.7
GRB 050904
GRB 050904
GRB 050904 is one of the most distant events ever observed.This gamma ray burst occurred in the constellation Pisces.The bright γ-ray flash, lasting about 200 seconds, was detected on September 4, 2005 by the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission....

September 2005 — September 2008 z=6.29
GRB 000131
GRB 000131
GRB 000131 was a gamma-ray burst that was detected on 31 January 2000 at 14:59 UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived...

January 2000 — September 2005 z=4.50
GRB 971214
GRB 971214
GRB 971214 is a gamma-ray burst observed in 1997. It originated 12 billion light years away. For a brief period this was thought by some researchers to have been the most energetic event observed in the universe, but this claim has since been discredited.In 1998, it was hypothesized by George...

December 1997 — January 2000 z=3.42
GRB 970508
GRB 970508
GRB 970508 was a gamma-ray burst detected on May 8, 1997, at 21:42 UTC. A gamma-ray burst is a highly luminous flash associated with an explosion in a distant galaxy and producing gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, and often followed by a longer-lived...

May 1997 — December 1997 z=0.835 First GRB with its distance determined

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