CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Scientists have discovered a gamma ray explosion outside our galaxy that’s not only exceptionally powerful, but also long-lasting.
Telescopes on Earth and in space — including Hubble — have teamed up to study the unique explosion of high-energy radiation first observed in July.
Astronomers reported Tuesday that it’s unlike anything they’ve witnessed before.
The repeated bursts of gamma rays were detected over the course of a day, according to scientists.
That’s highly unusual since these kinds of bursts normally last just minutes or even milliseconds — rarely no more than a few hours — as dying stars collapse or are torn apart by black holes.
Scientists said such a long and recurrent gamma ray explosion is puzzling — a cosmic whodunit, at least for now.
More observations are needed to confirm its precise whereabouts.
The European-led team announced its findings in the Astrophysical Journal Letters in August.