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A Strange Supernova with a Gamma-Ray Burst
October 15, 1998On April 25, the BeppoSAX satellite detected a Gamma-Ray Burst
from the direction of the constellation Telescopium, deep in the
southern sky. Although there is now general consensus that they
originate in very distant galaxies, the underlying physical causes of
these events that release great amounts of energy within seconds are still
puzzling astronomers.
Immediately after reports about the April 25 Burst had been received,
astronomers at La Silla took some images of the sky region where the
gamma-rays were observed. A comparatively bright object was found in a
galaxy, ESO184-G82 in this field.
The ESO astronomers at La Silla decided to continue observations of
the new star-like object and set up a comprehensive programme with
several telescopes at that observatory. During the subsequent weeks and
months, they obtained images through various filtres to determine the
brightness in different colours, as well as detailed spectra. These
observations soon showed the object to be a supernova. This is a heavy
star that explodes during a late and fatal evolutionary stage. The new
supernova now received the official designation SN 1998bw.
From a careful study based on these observations, it has been concluded
that SN 1998bw underwent an exceptionally powerful explosion, more
violent than most other supernovae observed so far. It was also unusual
in the sense that very strong radio emission was observed within a few
days after the explosion - normally this only happens after several
weeks. In fact, at radio wavelengths, SN 1998bw was the brightest
supernova ever observed.
SN 1998bw is obviously an unusual supernova. It is therefore of
particular significance that a Gamma-Ray Burst was observed from the
same sky region just before it was discovered in optical light. It is very
unlikely that these two very rare events would happen in the same
region of the sky without being somehow related. Most astronomers
therefore tend to believe that the gamma-rays do indeed originate in the
supernova explosion.
Full information about these ESO observations and the implications, with
related sky photos, are now available as ESO Press Release 15/98
(15 October 1998) at:
http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-1998/pr-15-98.html
European Southern Observatory (ESO)
the new star-like object and set up a comprehensive programme with
several telescopes at that observatory. During the subsequent weeks and
months, they obtained images through various filtres to determine the
brightness in different colours, as well as detailed spectra. These
observations soon showed the object to be a supernova. This is a heavy
star that explodes during a late and fatal evolutionary stage. The new
supernova now received the official designation SN 1998bw.
From a careful study based on these observations, it has been concluded
that SN 1998bw underwent an exceptionally powerful explosion, more
violent than most other supernovae observed so far. It was also unusual
in the sense that very strong radio emission was observed within a few
days after the explosion - normally this only happens after several
weeks. In fact, at radio wavelengths, SN 1998bw was the brightest
supernova ever observed.
SN 1998bw is obviously an unusual supernova. It is therefore of
particular significance that a Gamma-Ray Burst was observed from the
same sky region just before it was discovered in optical light. It is very
unlikely that these two very rare events would happen in the same
region of the sky without being somehow related. Most astronomers
therefore tend to believe that the gamma-rays do indeed originate in the
supernova explosion.
Full information about these ESO observations and the implications, with
related sky photos, are now available as ESO Press Release 15/98
(15 October 1998) at:
http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-1998/pr-15-98.html
European Southern Observatory (ESO)
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