Brightest-Ever 'Blazar' Flare from Distant Galaxy Spotted by NASA's Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telesco

Brightest-Ever 'Blazar' Flare from Distant Galaxy Spotted by NASA's Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope

www.sciencedaily.com

A galaxy located billions of light-years away is commanding the attention of NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and astronomers around the globe. Thanks to a series of flares that began September 15, the galaxy is now the brightest source in the gamma-ray sky -more than ten times brighter than it was in the summer.
Astronomers identify the object as 3C 454.3, an active galaxy located 7.2 billion light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. But even among active galaxies, it's exceptional.

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[edit on 12/12/2009 by Doglord]

[edit on 12/12/2009 by Doglord]

The sheer power of such phenomenon is simply astounding. Matter, falling into the super massive black holes at the center of galaxies creates jets of gamma rays, the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation. The energies released by such "blazars" could literally incinerate the earth. I am always awed by the power of celestial objects, and find such news to be inspiring.

www.sciencedaily.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by Doglord


This stuff interests me a lot too. I can't believe the average person is disinterested in the universe and the truly amazing things going on right around us.

Maybe when we master and commercialise interstellar space travel so these events can be seen out the window of your car (per se) people might start to appreciate it a little more.

Fanciful I know.

blazars are extremely powerful
perhaps more powerful than black holes

now think of the power that comes out of blazars
they could be used for super next-gen propulsion

This stuff always interests me. There is always so much to know.

Interesting and informative. It kind of makes me feel like the grain of sand in the sahara desert.


Respects