Dark GRBs linked to dust clouds
Posted: Tue, Jun 9, 2009, 8:22 AM ET (1222 GMT)
A class of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) without a visible afterglow have been linked to galaxies with previously undetected dust clouds, astronomers announced Monday. "Dark" GRBs are so named because they have no detectable afterglow as visible or infrared wavelengths. Astronomers originally thought these GRBs were so distant that the light had been redshifted beyond detection. However, astronomers studied 14 such bursts and found that almost every one of them was associated with a galaxy that was visible in optical telescopes. Astronomers now believe the optical afterglow of these GRBs was absorbed by clouds of dust, perhaps associated with regions of star formation, not previously detected around these galaxies.
A class of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) without a visible afterglow have been linked to galaxies with previously undetected dust clouds, astronomers announced Monday. "Dark" GRBs are so named because they have no detectable afterglow as visible or infrared wavelengths. Astronomers originally thought these GRBs were so distant that the light had been redshifted beyond detection. However, astronomers studied 14 such bursts and found that almost every one of them was associated with a galaxy that was visible in optical telescopes. Astronomers now believe the optical afterglow of these GRBs was absorbed by clouds of dust, perhaps associated with regions of star formation, not previously detected around these galaxies.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, February 4
Viasat Awarded Task Order For Space Force Satcom Services
Aviation Week — 7:01 am ET (1201 GMT) A Fidelity fund is now valuing its stake in SpaceX at more than $2.7 billion
Business Insider — 6:59 am ET (1159 GMT) Elon Musk’s glaring conflicts of interest deserve more attention
The Hill — 6:57 am ET (1157 GMT) Airbus Hires Goldman for European Space Tie-Up to Rival Musk
Bloomberg News — 6:55 am ET (1155 GMT) Microbes in space: how bacteria could help sustain long-distance space travel
Nature — 6:52 am ET (1152 GMT) |
