Cosmic Explosion Among the Brightest in Recorded History

NASA ^ | 18 February 2005 | Staff

[PatrickHenry]

Something you don't see every day.

[PatrickHenry]

Science Ping!

An elite subset of the Evolution list.

See list's description in my freeper homepage. Then FReepmail to be added/dropped.

[scottinoc]

Awaiting the obligatory "It's Bush's fault" post

[kipita]

The scientists said the light came from a "giant flare" on the surface of an exotic neutron star, called a magnetar. The apparent magnitude was brighter than a full moon and all historical star explosions. The light was brightest in the gamma-ray energy range, far more energetic than visible light or X-rays and invisible to our eyes.

The Earth equivalence of 21st century American conservatism.

[democrats_nightmare]

No doubt caused by Global Warming...

[newgeezer]

I'm all for sending a contingent of Dem Senators and Representatives out there to investigate.

[RadioAstronomer]

WOW! :-)

[RicocheT]

So that's why the waiter refused my credit card. It was the SGR flare and not the poor state of my finances.

[dsmatuska]

I'll "It's Bush's fault".

"It's Bush's fault"

[dsmatuska]

I'll oblige.

"It's Bush's fault"

[Flyer]

The apparent magnitude was brighter than a full moon

Are they saying it was naked eye earth visible?

I need to think back to where I was on December 27.

[dsmatuska]

I'll "It's Bush's fault".

It's Friday, I need to go home and chill.

[Snardius]

Scientists have detected a flash of light from across the Galaxy...

It was the flash from God's camera...he wants something to remember us by...

[green pastures]

It was a Monday, the day after the tsunami...

[ColoCdn]

I registered a couple of pounds heavier on the scales that day. I knew it wasn't me.

[GaltMeister]

We can certainly cast blame for this extraordinary event right at the feet of the VRWC.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

I hear John Kerry has a plan for this....

[Patti_ORiley]

"The light was brightest in the gamma-ray energy range..."

I remember December 27, 2004 very well. My skin started to turn green, my muscles bulged ... and then, I woke up on the morning with a terrible headache.

[PatrickHenry]

I assume you weren't on duty that night. Or perhaps some young lovely was taking the tour of your control room and you became distracted. Hee hee.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

The apparent magnitude was brighter than a full moon and all historical star explosions.

So brighter than anything in all of the last 20 years or so.