Astronomy Experts Catches Collapsing Star in Gargantuan Cosmic Explosion With Gamma-Ray Burst for the First Time

Astronomers had a free ticket for the brightest cosmic show to date- an explosion of a collapsing star. This blinding explosion was a result of high-radiation levels added with gamma-ray bursts. The cosmic phenomenon was discovered in a space observatory located in Namibia.

HESS Telescope Captures Gamma-Ray Burst

X-rays from the GRB were detected by NASA's Swift satellite in Earth's orbit. Very-high-energy gamma rays entered the atmosphere and initiated air showers that were detected by H.E.S.S. from the ground (artist’s impression).

(Photo: DESY / Science Communication Lab)

Using the High Energy Stereoscopic System, also known as the HESS Telescope, the experts have been able to identify additional evidence to support ongoing studies on how gamma-ray bursts work.

Gamma-ray bursts are not yet observed in their physical form, but the recent journal published in Science entitled "Revealing x-ray and gamma-ray temporal and spectral similarities in the GRB 190829A afterglow" shows that we have already caught one cosmic blast from a dying star. This observation will push more comprehensive research about the gargantuan explosions. The recent discovery will also be the key to understating how the blasts relate to the birth of black holes.

ALSO READ: NASA Shares More Details About Missions to Venus, Earth, Mars, and Moon

Recent GRB from Collapsing Star Contributes to Astrophysics

GRBs are the effect of a collapsing star that turns into a supernova. The emissions from the supernova include x-rays and gamma-rays, which are believed to be the most colossal explosions in the entire universe, explains Sylvia Zhu, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, and co-author of the study. She added that the emission of flashes is grouped into two different phases: the first being the initial chaotic phase that runs in a few seconds, and the second being a smooth afterglow phase, which fades for a long time, reports SciTechDaily.

NASA's satellites Fermi and Swift had already detected this kind of explosions back in 2019. The gamma-ray bursts, named GRB 190829A, were found at the location of the Eridanus constellation. The initial detection of the GRBs was a big break for astronomers to harvest more information about the cosmic blasts.

Early gamma-ray shows limited data, but the recent cosmic explosions show promising information. Even if the recent gamma-ray burst was detected billions of lightyears away from Earth, the explosions were 20 times closer to the planet compared to the first GRBs identified, reports CNET.

The x-ray and a large number of gamma-rays found in the afterglow were pretty similar. This surprised experts, leading to a conclusion that the extrapolation spectrum from both types of rays is using an identical mechanism, said Rikko University professor and co-author of the study Dmitry Khangulyan.

Stefan Wagner, Landessternwarte Heidelberg LWS professor, and HESS spokesperson said that the breakthrough regarding the gamma-ray shows can be now examined by next-generation space observation instruments such as Cherenkov Telescope located at Chilean Andes. The opportunity of having an observable GRB will be a guide to fully understand the physics behind the phenomenon, he added.

The study of the massive explosion from the collapsing star is unquestionably a great leap towards the astrophysical research of gamma-ray bursts. With that said, various HESS telescopes are now being upgraded and serve as a reference to other versions of telescopes. The study was made possible by the collaboration of more than 200 experts hailing from 15 various countries.