Universe ID: 20077

Cosmic Explosion Second Only to the Sun in Brightness

Animations by Susan Twardy Released on August 18, 2006

The gamma ray flare produced by neutron star SGR 1806-20, traveled 50,000 light years before impacting Earth. The burst was so powerful, that it disrupted Earth's ionosphere. Scientists know of only two other giant flares in the past 35 years, and this December 27, 2005 event was one hundred times more powerful than either of those

This high resolution print still illustrates the wave of the gamma ray flare from Neutron star SGR 1806-20 as it disrupts Earth's ionosphere.

Animation Credits

Susan Twardy (HTSI): Lead Animator
Neil Gehrels (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Michael McClare (HTSI): Writer

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

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https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20077

Mission:
Swift

Data Used:

Swift

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This item is part of these series:
Astrophysics Animations
Astrophysics Stills

Goddard TV Tape:
G2005-016

Keywords:
SVS >> Earth
SVS >> Neutron Star
DLESE >> Space science
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Spectral/Engineering >> Gamma Ray
GCMD >> Location >> Ionosphere
SVS >> Gamma Ray Burst
SVS >> Astrophysics
SVS >> Universe
SVS >> Space
SVS >> Supernova
NASA Science >> Universe

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0