Old Neutron Stars3Cosmic gamma-ray bursts occur several times a day. Having the extreme brilliance of a billion Suns, the bursts are considered the most powerful explosions in the universe. two types of gamma-ray bursts exist-the long ones that last for tens or hundreds of seconds, and short bursts, which last a few milliseconds to a second. Though it has been discovered that long bursts are the death throes of massive stars in distant, young, and vigorously star forming galaxies, the origin of the short gamma-ray bursts has still been a mystery.



The first study that accurately pinpoints a short gamma-ray burst to an old dead galaxy has been made that implicates a population of old neutron stars as the sources of these explosions. Nature’s December 15, 2005, issue reveals this study. Until recently it has been very difficult to localize them, as short gamma-ray bursts are fainter than the long bursts. The study was possible with the advent of NASA’s Swift satellite and rapid follow-up by telescopes on the ground. Swift detects and observes gamma-ray bursts in multiple wavelengths. IT also alerts astronomers to quickly point ground-based telescopes to catch the fading glows that linger for hours or days after the burst of gamma-rays.



Via: Eureka Alert