Cosmic distance record 'broken'

Gerald · 05-25-11, 07:43 PM

A cataclysmic explosion of a huge star near the edge of the observable Universe may be the most distant single object yet spied by a telescope.

Scientists believe the blast, which was detected by Nasa's Swift space observatory, occurred a mere 520 million years after the Big Bang.

This means its light has taken a staggering 13.14 billion years to reach Earth.

Details of the discovery will appear shortly in the Astrophysical Journal.

The event, which was picked up by Swift in April 2009, is referred to by astronomers using the designation GRB 090429B.

The "GRB" stands for "gamma-ray burst" - a sudden pulse of very high-energy light that the telescope is tuned to find on the sky.

These bursts are usually associated with extremely violent processes, such as the end-of-life collapse of giant stars.

"It would have been a huge star, perhaps 30 times the mass of our Sun," said lead researcher Dr Antonino Cucchiara from the University of California, Berkeley.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13539914

Note: 25 May 2011 Last updated at 18:12 GMT

TLAM Strike · 05-25-11, 10:20 PM

I recall hearing they found a quasar older than the projected age of the universe recently. Not sure what became of that.

FIREWALL · 05-25-11, 10:25 PM

Vendor

btw. Is that distance as the the crow flies.

Gerald · 05-26-11, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

Vendor

btw. Is that distance as the the crow flies.

Hey....

.....good question

CCIP · 05-26-11, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

Vendor

btw. Is that distance as the the crow flies.

I believe that comes out to

3 939 272 900 000 000 000 000 000 km

Not bad

Torplexed · 05-26-11, 06:45 AM

Really really far out.

The implication in all this is that the early universe was already a busy star factory.

Gerald · 05-26-11, 10:51 AM

Yes, one can safely say .... and it will hardly be any stop along the way if you want to stay and buy something....

Wolfehunter · 05-26-11, 11:08 AM

You wonder that it too soo long for that view of the exploding start to show itself now after soo many many years. It should make us wonder also that if there are intelligent life out there looking at our star.. Maybe there seeing dinosaurs still on the earth hahaa.. No visitors anytime soon guys

No intelligent life on earth yet. hahaa..

Interesting concept no?

Gerald · 05-26-11, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfehunter

You wonder that it too soo long for that view of the exploding start to show itself now after soo many many years. It should make us wonder also that if there are intelligent life out there looking at our star.. Maybe there seeing dinosaurs still on the earth hahaa.. No visitors anytime soon guys

No intelligent life on earth yet. hahaa..

Interesting concept no?

You are right in what you say .... and if "there is" some potent viewers from other planets as they discover soon that the Tellus where is this lot of trouble,

vienna · 05-26-11, 01:13 PM

...and they probably get better wireless service out there than I do here...

Gerald · 05-26-11, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vienna

...and they probably get better wireless service out there than I do here...

Sounds like taking aim at an upgrade of the system,

Pisces · 05-26-11, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

Vendor

btw. Is that distance as the the crow flies.

I think the crow would be long dead if it tried to cross that distance.

Platapus · 05-26-11, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

Vendor

btw. Is that distance as the the crow flies.

African or European?

TLAM Strike · 05-26-11, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pisces

I think the crow would be long dead if it tried to cross that distance.

depends on velocity, at near c time can do crazy things...

CaptainMattJ. · 05-26-11, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

African or European?

what!? i dont know that!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

05-25-11, 07:43 PM	#1
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Cosmic distance record 'broken' A cataclysmic explosion of a huge star near the edge of the observable Universe may be the most distant single object yet spied by a telescope. Scientists believe the blast, which was detected by Nasa's Swift space observatory, occurred a mere 520 million years after the Big Bang. This means its light has taken a staggering 13.14 billion years to reach Earth. Details of the discovery will appear shortly in the Astrophysical Journal. The event, which was picked up by Swift in April 2009, is referred to by astronomers using the designation GRB 090429B. The "GRB" stands for "gamma-ray burst" - a sudden pulse of very high-energy light that the telescope is tuned to find on the sky. These bursts are usually associated with extremely violent processes, such as the end-of-life collapse of giant stars. "It would have been a huge star, perhaps 30 times the mass of our Sun," said lead researcher Dr Antonino Cucchiara from the University of California, Berkeley. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13539914 Note: 25 May 2011 Last updated at 18:12 GMT __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

05-25-11, 10:20 PM	#2
TLAM Strike Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 8,633 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 6	I recall hearing they found a quasar older than the projected age of the universe recently. Not sure what became of that. __________________

05-25-11, 10:25 PM	#3
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Vendor btw. Is that distance as the the crow flies. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

05-26-11, 06:45 AM	#6
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Really really far out. The implication in all this is that the early universe was already a busy star factory. __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

05-26-11, 10:51 AM	#7
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Yes, one can safely say .... and it will hardly be any stop along the way if you want to stay and buy something.... __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

05-26-11, 11:08 AM	#8
Wolfehunter Crusty Capt. Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,752 Downloads: 40 Uploads: 25	You wonder that it too soo long for that view of the exploding start to show itself now after soo many many years. It should make us wonder also that if there are intelligent life out there looking at our star.. Maybe there seeing dinosaurs still on the earth hahaa.. No visitors anytime soon guys No intelligent life on earth yet. hahaa.. Interesting concept no? __________________

05-26-11, 01:13 PM	#10
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	...and they probably get better wireless service out there than I do here...