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-- Record breaking explosion continues to astound astronomers --
University of Leicester astronomers have used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to peer across 7.5 billions light-years, halfway back to the big bang, to photograph the fading optical counterpart of a powerful gamma-ray burst.
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST; also known colloquially as "the Hubble" or just "Hubble") is a space telescope that was carried into Earth orbit by the Space Shuttle in April 1990. It is named after the famous American astronomer Edwin Hubble. The HST is part of NASA's Great Observatories series, with the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the Spitzer Space Telescope, and is a collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency.
Hubble images taken on Monday April 7 show the fading optical counterpart of the titanic blast. The object erupted in a brilliant flash of gamma-rays, light and other radiation at 2:12 a.m. EDT on March 19, and was detected by the UK/US/Italian gamma-ray burst watchdog satellite, Swift, which carries a University of Leicester camera.
This particular burst astonished astronomers by breaking the record for being the intrinsically brightest naked-eye object ever seen from Earth. For nearly a minute, this single distant star was brighter than ten million galaxies.
Gamma-ray bursts are thought to be caused by the death of a very massive star. Such explosions, sometimes dubbed "hypernovae", are more powerful than ordinary supernova explosions, and are far more luminous, in part because their energy seems to be concentrated into blowtorch-like beam that, in this case, was aimed directly at Earth.
The researchers were taken aback by the new HST images because the fading ember of the burst is still so bright it drowns out any light from the galaxy in which it sits.
"This is particularly surprising precisely because it was such a bright GRB initially. Previously, bright bursts have tended to fade more rapidly, which fits in to the theory that brighter GRBs emit their energy in a more tightly confined beam", said Prof Nial Tanvir who led the Hubble campaign.
"The slow fading leaves astronomers puzzling about just where the energy came from to power this GRB, and makes HST's next observations of this object in May all the more crucial.", said Dr Andrew Levan of the University of Warwick, another team member.
Prof Tanvir will be giving a public lecture at the University on 27th May, explaining the mysterious phenomena of gamma-ray bursts, and giving an update on the latest results.
Latest News
Police issue advice after Asian gold jewellery and watches stolen during burglaries | ||
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 | Police issue advice after Asian gold jewellery and watches stolen during burglariesLeicestershire Constabulary has issued advice after a number of burglaries where jewellery has been stolen. Incidents have occurred across the county where homes have been broken into and thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and items of sentimental value have been taken.... 10 Feb 2012 Police issue advice after Asian gold jewellery and watches stolen during burglaries | |
Police name driver of van following fatal collision in Groby | ||
| Police name driver of van following fatal collision in GrobyPolice have named the driver of the van who died following a collision on the A50 in Groby. The collision occurred at about 9.... 10 Feb 2012 Police name driver of van following fatal collision in Groby | |
Man sentenced to six years after two robberies at Nationwide and Yorkshire Bank | ||
 | Environment & Transport10 February 2012Learn to make a meal out of leftoversA series of free cookery classes are being held to teach people how to cook up a treat using leftovers. As well as cooking up to three recipes, Leicestershire residents who attend can pick up tasty recipe cards and take home a free goody bag containing giveaways including a spaghetti measure and a meal planner.... 10 Feb 2012 Learn to make a meal out of leftovers | |
Robbery on Victoria Park | ||
| Robbery on Victoria ParkPolice are appealing for witnesses to a robbery on Victoria Park. The incident happened Sunday, January 22 at around 7pm when the 19-year-old victim was walking across the park towards the memorial from London Road.... 09 Feb 2012 Robbery on Victoria Park | |
Related News
Gamma Ray Bursts | |
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 | The brightest cosmic explosion ever witnessed was observed by scientists at the University of Leicester in March 2008.... 22 May 2008 Gamma Ray Bursts |
University of Leicester space scientist says texting is at least four times more expensive than receiving scientific data from space | |
 | A University of Leicester space scientist has worked out that sending texts via mobile phones works out to be far more expensive than downloading data from the Hubble Space Telescope!... 12 May 2008 University of Leicester space scientist says texting is at least four times more expensive than receiving scientific data from space |
FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT TO LECTURE AT UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER | |
 | Jeff Hoffman, the 64-year-old former NASA astronaut with five space missions and over 20 million miles of space travel under his belt is to teach a new generation of physicists about human space flight and robotic missions.... 11 Jul 2008 FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT TO LECTURE AT UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER |
Out of this world experience at University of Leicester | |
 | Visitors to the University of Leicester for a free public open day on April 26 can expect an 'out of this world' experience.... 08 Apr 2008 Out of this world experience at University of Leicester |
Spotlight on Saturn's Aurorae | |
 | A UK team of researchers have discovered a secondary aurora sparkling on Saturn and also started to unravel the mechanisms that drive the process.... 19 Jun 2008 Spotlight on Saturn's Aurorae |
Relevant News
Out of this world experience at University of Leicester | |
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| Visitors to the University of Leicester for a free public open day on April 26 can expect an 'out of this world' experience.... 08 Apr 2008 Out of this world experience at University of Leicester |
LECTURE HIGHLIGHTS 50 YEARS AS A SPACE SCIENTIST | |
 | An eminent British scientist, whose work has been celebrated among 100 Discoveries that Changed the World is to give a public lecture at the University of Leicester about his work, spanning half a century, as a space scientist. Professor Ken Pounds CBE, FRS, Emeritus Professor of Space Physics at the University of Leicester is a UK pioneer of space science and a founder of the space programme at the University of Leicester - now among the biggest academic space research centres in Europe.... 30 Apr 2008 LECTURE HIGHLIGHTS 50 YEARS AS A SPACE SCIENTIST |
Stephen Hawking Lecture at Leicester University | |
 | Professor Stephen Hawking to deliver 50th Anniversary lecture at University of Leicester The University of Leicester will be making history on Wednesday 28th May when one of the best-known and most remarkable scientists of our time will talk on the beginning of time and the cosmos. As part of the University s 50th Anniversary celebrations, Professor Stephen Hawking, CBE, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, will discuss theories on the origin of the Universe in a public lecture.... 01 May 2008 Stephen Hawking Lecture at Leicester University |
NEW SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED IN MEMORY OF OUTSTANDING MATHEMATICIAN | |
 | A prestigious new scholarship has been announced by the University of Leicester?s Department of Mathematics in memory of an outstanding former member of staff.... 02 May 2008 NEW SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED IN MEMORY OF OUTSTANDING MATHEMATICIAN |
University of Leicester space scientist says texting is at least four times more expensive than receiving scientific data from space | |
| A University of Leicester space scientist has worked out that sending texts via mobile phones works out to be far more expensive than downloading data from the Hubble Space Telescope!... 12 May 2008 University of Leicester space scientist says texting is at least four times more expensive than receiving scientific data from space |
Most Read News (today)
Leicester men guilty of smuggling 36m of cannabis | |
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 | Leicester men guilty of smuggling 36m of cannabis Anjam Nazir, Mohinder Singh, Baljinder Singh Three men from Leicester have pleaded guilty to their part in one of the country s biggest Cannabis smuggling operations. Leicestershire Constabulary is now able to provide details about the 36m drugs investigation following the conclusion of the trial at Winchester Crown Court today (Tuesday June 2).... 02 Jun 2009 Leicester men guilty of smuggling 36m of cannabis |
Second collision on M1 northbound | |
 | Leicestershire Constabulary are investigating a second fatal collision on the M1 northbound. The first collision happened at around 8.... 12 Nov 2008 Second collision on M1 northbound |
Cement mixer stolen from Hinckley | |
| Cement mixer stolen from Hinckley Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary at a building site in Hinckley. The incident happened at a building site at a premises on Baines Lane between 4.... 10 Mar 2009 Cement mixer stolen from Hinckley |
Police confirm death of woman in Shepshed is non-suspicious | |
| Police confirm death of woman in Shepshed is non-suspiciousOfficers investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman in Shepshed have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious. The body was discovered in Butthole Lane at about 1pm on Wednesday January 5.... 06 Jan 2011 Police confirm death of woman in Shepshed is non-suspicious |
Man found guilty of assault and rape of woman in Loughborough | |
| Man found guilty of assault and rape of woman in LoughboroughPaulius TroninasA 19-year-old man has today (Friday January 7, 2011) been found guilty of the assault and rape of a woman in Loughborough. Paulius Troninas, 19, of Paget Street, Loughborough was found guilty of rape and section 18 grievous bodily harm following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court.... 07 Jan 2011 Man found guilty of assault and rape of woman in Loughborough |
Most Read News (this month)
Leicester men guilty of smuggling 36m of cannabis | |
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| Leicester men guilty of smuggling 36m of cannabis Anjam Nazir, Mohinder Singh, Baljinder Singh Three men from Leicester have pleaded guilty to their part in one of the country s biggest Cannabis smuggling operations. Leicestershire Constabulary is now able to provide details about the 36m drugs investigation following the conclusion of the trial at Winchester Crown Court today (Tuesday June 2).... 02 Jun 2009 Leicester men guilty of smuggling 36m of cannabis |
Second collision on M1 northbound | |
| Leicestershire Constabulary are investigating a second fatal collision on the M1 northbound. The first collision happened at around 8.... 12 Nov 2008 Second collision on M1 northbound |
Cement mixer stolen from Hinckley | |
| Cement mixer stolen from Hinckley Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary at a building site in Hinckley. The incident happened at a building site at a premises on Baines Lane between 4.... 10 Mar 2009 Cement mixer stolen from Hinckley |
Police confirm death of woman in Shepshed is non-suspicious | |
| Police confirm death of woman in Shepshed is non-suspiciousOfficers investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman in Shepshed have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious. The body was discovered in Butthole Lane at about 1pm on Wednesday January 5.... 06 Jan 2011 Police confirm death of woman in Shepshed is non-suspicious |
Man found guilty of assault and rape of woman in Loughborough | |
| Man found guilty of assault and rape of woman in LoughboroughPaulius TroninasA 19-year-old man has today (Friday January 7, 2011) been found guilty of the assault and rape of a woman in Loughborough. Paulius Troninas, 19, of Paget Street, Loughborough was found guilty of rape and section 18 grievous bodily harm following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court.... 07 Jan 2011 Man found guilty of assault and rape of woman in Loughborough |
Most Read News (alltime)
Fatal road traffic collision on Melton Road | |
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| Fatal road traffic collision on Melton Road Officers from the force s Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses after a fatal road traffic collision on Melton Road. The collision occurred at around 7.... 08 Jun 2009 Fatal road traffic collision on Melton Road |
Forensic Psychology | |
 | Volunteers are being sought to take part in a new study at the University of Leicester which will have important implications for forensic research. Participants are required to spend just 30 minutes undertaking memory tasks and questionnaires which will help to shed new light on the relationship between personality, the experience of life adversity, and eye-witness memory.... 23 May 2008 Forensic Psychology |
Five Leicester men sentenced after illegal immigration scam | |
| Five Leicester men sentenced after illegal immigration scamTop L to R - Sandip Rana, Satish Ravat, Vishal Shah bottom L to R Bhavesh Patel and Jaswinder ChahalFive Leicester men have today (Thursday November 25) been sentenced for their part in an illegal immigration scam. Bhavesh Patel (27) of Columbine Road, Hamilton, Satish Ravat (28) of Arbour Road, Leicester, Sandip Singh Rana (29) of Moores Road, Leicester, Jaswinder Chahal (42) of Swithland Avenue, Leicester and Vishal Jitendra Shah (25) of Braemar Close, Leicester pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court at an earlier hearing to assisting unlawful immigration to a member state contrary to section 25 of the Immigration Act 1971.... 25 Nov 2010 Five Leicester men sentenced after illegal immigration scam |
Multi agency forum test explosion exercise at Leicester Racecourse | |
| Multi agency forum test explosion exercise at Leicester RacecourseMembers from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Local Resilience Forum (LRF) have today (Wednesday October 27, 2010) been involved in a pre-planned exercise to test how emergency services would cope with a major incident. At 10.... 27 Oct 2010 Multi agency forum test explosion exercise at Leicester Racecourse |
Missing girl returns home safe and well | |
| Missing girl returns home safe and well Officers investigating the disappearance of a 14-year-old girl have confirmed she has returned safe and well. Sarah Dunn was reported missing from home on Monday May 25.... 08 Jun 2009 Missing girl returns home safe and well |