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Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

Music: \"Collision Course-Alternative Version\" from Universal Production Music

Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.

Complete transcript available.

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This finding confirms long-held suspicions that some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) – cosmic eruptions detected somewhere in the sky almost daily – are in fact powerful flares from magnetars relatively close to home.

The April 15 event, cataloged as GRB 200415A, is a game changer because, for the first time, the burst's estimated location is almost entirely within the disk of one galaxy – NGC 253, located 11.4 million light-years away. This is the most precise position yet established for a giant flare located well beyond our galaxy.

GRBs, the most powerful explosions in the cosmos, can be detected across billions of light-years. Those lasting less than about two seconds, called short GRBs, occur when a pair of orbiting neutron stars both the crushed remnants of exploded stars spiral into each other and merge.

Magnetars are neutron stars with the strongest-known magnetic fields, with up to a thousand times the intensity of typical neutron stars and up to 10 trillion times the strength of a refrigerator magnet. Rarely, magnetars produce enormous eruptions called giant flares that produce gamma rays, the highest-energy form of light.

Shortly before 4:42 a.m. EDT on April 15, a powerful burst of X-rays and gamma rays triggered, in turn, instruments on NASA's Mars Odyssey mission, Wind satellite, and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. A ground-based analysis of data from NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory show that it also detected the event.

The pulse of radiation lasted just 140 milliseconds, as fast as a blink of the eye or a finger snap. Fermi's Large Area Telescope (LAT) also detected high-energy gamma rays up to several minutes after this pulse, a surprising finding.

Analysis of Fermi and Swift data indicate that the outburst launched a blob of electrons and positrons moving at about 99% the speed of light. The blob expanded as it traveled, following closely behind the light emitted by the giant flare.

After a few days, scientists say, they reached the boundary separating the magnetar's region of influence from interstellar space. The light passed through, followed many seconds later by the greatly expanded cloud. This material induced shock waves in gas piled up at the boundary, and the interaction produced the highest-energy emission detected by the LAT.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318146, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318146", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Astronomers explain the observations of GRB 200415A with the sequence of events illustrated here. A magnetar is a city-sized ball containing more mass than the Sun and boasting the strongest magnetic fields known. A sudden reconfiguration of this field, possibly caused by a starquake, produced a quick, powerful pulse of X-rays and gamma rays. The event also ejected a blob of matter, which followed the pulse and moved slightly slower, at about 99% the speed of light. After a few days, they both reached the boundary, called a bow shock, where a steady outflow from the magnetar causes a pile-up of interstellar gas. Light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the fast-moving cloud of ejected particles. They interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produced high-energy gamma rays. This accounts for the delay in the arrival of the most energetic gamma rays detected by NASA's Fermi mission.

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)

Music: \"Collision Course\" from Universal Production Music

Watch this video on the NASA.gov Video YouTube channel.

Complete transcript available.

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The event also ejected a blob of matter, which followed the pulse and moved slightly slower, at about 99% the speed of light. After a few days, they both reached the boundary, called a bow shock, where a steady outflow from the magnetar causes a pile-up of interstellar gas. Light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the fast-moving cloud of ejected particles. They interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produced high-energy gamma rays. This accounts for the delay in the arrival of the most energetic gamma rays detected by NASA's Fermi mission. 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Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "items": [ { "id": 223093, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380476, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_CU.gif", "filename": "magnetar_flare_CU.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A GIF version of the above.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 500, "height": 281, "pixels": 140500 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318149, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318149", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The initial pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta) traveled away from the magnetar, followed closely by the expanding cloud of particles, which moved only slightly slower.

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "items": [ { "id": 223094, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380477, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_medium_shot_Still.jpg", "filename": "magnetar_flare_medium_shot_Still.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The initial pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta) traveled away from the magnetar, followed closely by the expanding cloud of particles, which moved only slightly slower. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223095, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380478, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_medium_shot_ProRes_1920x1080_2398.mov", "filename": "magnetar_flare_medium_shot_ProRes_1920x1080_2398.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "The initial pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta) traveled away from the magnetar, followed closely by the expanding cloud of particles, which moved only slightly slower. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223096, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380479, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_medium_shot_best_1080.mp4", "filename": "magnetar_flare_medium_shot_best_1080.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "The initial pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta) traveled away from the magnetar, followed closely by the expanding cloud of particles, which moved only slightly slower. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223097, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380480, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_medium_shot_good_1080.mp4", "filename": "magnetar_flare_medium_shot_good_1080.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "The initial pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta) traveled away from the magnetar, followed closely by the expanding cloud of particles, which moved only slightly slower. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223098, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380481, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_medium_shot_best_1080.webm", "filename": "magnetar_flare_medium_shot_best_1080.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "The initial pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta) traveled away from the magnetar, followed closely by the expanding cloud of particles, which moved only slightly slower. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318150, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318150", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "After a few days, both the flare's light and the cloud of ejected matter approached the boundary, called a bow shock, where a steady outflow from the magnetar causes a pile-up of interstellar gas. The quick pulse of light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the fast-moving cloud, which had grown larger and more diffuse. The cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produced the highest-energy gamma rays.

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "items": [ { "id": 223099, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380482, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_wide_shot_Still.jpg", "filename": "magnetar_flare_wide_shot_Still.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "After a few days, both the flare's light and the cloud of ejected matter approached the boundary, called a bow shock, where a steady outflow from the magnetar causes a pile-up of interstellar gas. The quick pulse of light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the fast-moving cloud, which had grown larger and more diffuse. The cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produced the highest-energy gamma rays. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223100, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380483, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_wide_shot_ProRes_1920x1080_2398.mov", "filename": "magnetar_flare_wide_shot_ProRes_1920x1080_2398.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "After a few days, both the flare's light and the cloud of ejected matter approached the boundary, called a bow shock, where a steady outflow from the magnetar causes a pile-up of interstellar gas. The quick pulse of light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the fast-moving cloud, which had grown larger and more diffuse. The cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produced the highest-energy gamma rays. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223101, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380484, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_wide_shot_best_1080.mp4", "filename": "magnetar_flare_wide_shot_best_1080.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "After a few days, both the flare's light and the cloud of ejected matter approached the boundary, called a bow shock, where a steady outflow from the magnetar causes a pile-up of interstellar gas. The quick pulse of light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the fast-moving cloud, which had grown larger and more diffuse. The cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produced the highest-energy gamma rays. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223102, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380485, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_wide_shot_good_1080.mp4", "filename": "magnetar_flare_wide_shot_good_1080.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "After a few days, both the flare's light and the cloud of ejected matter approached the boundary, called a bow shock, where a steady outflow from the magnetar causes a pile-up of interstellar gas. The quick pulse of light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the fast-moving cloud, which had grown larger and more diffuse. The cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produced the highest-energy gamma rays. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223103, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380486, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_wide_shot_best_1080.webm", "filename": "magnetar_flare_wide_shot_best_1080.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "After a few days, both the flare's light and the cloud of ejected matter approached the boundary, called a bow shock, where a steady outflow from the magnetar causes a pile-up of interstellar gas. The quick pulse of light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the fast-moving cloud, which had grown larger and more diffuse. The cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produced the highest-energy gamma rays. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318151, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318151", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Unlabeled version of the sequence above.

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)

", "items": [ { "id": 223104, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380487, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_sequence_Still.jpg", "filename": "magnetar_flare_sequence_Still.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Unlabeled version of the sequence above.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223105, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380488, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_sequence_ProRes_1920x1080_2398.mov", "filename": "magnetar_flare_sequence_ProRes_1920x1080_2398.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Unlabeled version of the sequence above.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223106, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380489, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_sequence_good_1080.mp4", "filename": "magnetar_flare_sequence_good_1080.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Unlabeled version of the sequence above.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223107, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380490, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_sequence_best_1080.mp4", "filename": "magnetar_flare_sequence_best_1080.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Unlabeled version of the sequence above.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223108, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380491, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/magnetar_flare_sequence_good_1080.webm", "filename": "magnetar_flare_sequence_good_1080.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Unlabeled version of the sequence above.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith (USRA/GESTAR)", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318152, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318152", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This schematic view illustrates the sequence of events that explains the observations of GRB 200415A. A magnetar (left) is a city-sized ball containing more mass than the Sun that boasts the strongest magnetic fields known. A sudden reconfiguration of this field produced a quick, powerful pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta). The event also ejected a blob of electrons and positrons traveling at about 99% the speed of light. After a few days, they both reached the boundary, called a bow shock, where the magnetar's steady outflow of particles causes interstellar gas to pile up. Light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the expanded cloud of particles. The fast-moving cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produce gamma rays. This accounts for the delay in the arrival of the highest-energy light detected by NASA's Fermi spacecraft.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "items": [ { "id": 223109, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380492, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Blueprint_Still_1.jpg", "filename": "Magnetar_Blueprint_Still_1.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This schematic view illustrates the sequence of events that explains the observations of GRB 200415A. A magnetar (left) is a city-sized ball containing more mass than the Sun that boasts the strongest magnetic fields known. A sudden reconfiguration of this field produced a quick, powerful pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta). The event also ejected a blob of electrons and positrons traveling at about 99% the speed of light. After a few days, they both reached the boundary, called a bow shock, where the magnetar's steady outflow of particles causes interstellar gas to pile up. Light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the expanded cloud of particles. The fast-moving cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produce gamma rays. This accounts for the delay in the arrival of the highest-energy light detected by NASA's Fermi spacecraft.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 223110, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380493, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Blueprint_Still_2.jpg", "filename": "Magnetar_Blueprint_Still_2.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This schematic view illustrates the sequence of events that explains the observations of GRB 200415A. A magnetar (left) is a city-sized ball containing more mass than the Sun that boasts the strongest magnetic fields known. A sudden reconfiguration of this field produced a quick, powerful pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta). The event also ejected a blob of electrons and positrons traveling at about 99% the speed of light. After a few days, they both reached the boundary, called a bow shock, where the magnetar's steady outflow of particles causes interstellar gas to pile up. Light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the expanded cloud of particles. The fast-moving cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produce gamma rays. This accounts for the delay in the arrival of the highest-energy light detected by NASA's Fermi spacecraft.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 223113, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380496, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Blueprint_1080.mp4", "filename": "Magnetar_Blueprint_1080.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This schematic view illustrates the sequence of events that explains the observations of GRB 200415A. A magnetar (left) is a city-sized ball containing more mass than the Sun that boasts the strongest magnetic fields known. A sudden reconfiguration of this field produced a quick, powerful pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta). The event also ejected a blob of electrons and positrons traveling at about 99% the speed of light. After a few days, they both reached the boundary, called a bow shock, where the magnetar's steady outflow of particles causes interstellar gas to pile up. Light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the expanded cloud of particles. The fast-moving cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produce gamma rays. This accounts for the delay in the arrival of the highest-energy light detected by NASA's Fermi spacecraft.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223111, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380494, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Blueprint_ProRes_3840x2160_2997.mov", "filename": "Magnetar_Blueprint_ProRes_3840x2160_2997.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This schematic view illustrates the sequence of events that explains the observations of GRB 200415A. A magnetar (left) is a city-sized ball containing more mass than the Sun that boasts the strongest magnetic fields known. A sudden reconfiguration of this field produced a quick, powerful pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta). The event also ejected a blob of electrons and positrons traveling at about 99% the speed of light. After a few days, they both reached the boundary, called a bow shock, where the magnetar's steady outflow of particles causes interstellar gas to pile up. Light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the expanded cloud of particles. The fast-moving cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produce gamma rays. This accounts for the delay in the arrival of the highest-energy light detected by NASA's Fermi spacecraft.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 223112, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380495, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Blueprint_4k.mp4", "filename": "Magnetar_Blueprint_4k.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This schematic view illustrates the sequence of events that explains the observations of GRB 200415A. A magnetar (left) is a city-sized ball containing more mass than the Sun that boasts the strongest magnetic fields known. A sudden reconfiguration of this field produced a quick, powerful pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta). The event also ejected a blob of electrons and positrons traveling at about 99% the speed of light. After a few days, they both reached the boundary, called a bow shock, where the magnetar's steady outflow of particles causes interstellar gas to pile up. Light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the expanded cloud of particles. The fast-moving cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produce gamma rays. This accounts for the delay in the arrival of the highest-energy light detected by NASA's Fermi spacecraft.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 223114, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380497, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Blueprint_1080.webm", "filename": "Magnetar_Blueprint_1080.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This schematic view illustrates the sequence of events that explains the observations of GRB 200415A. A magnetar (left) is a city-sized ball containing more mass than the Sun that boasts the strongest magnetic fields known. A sudden reconfiguration of this field produced a quick, powerful pulse of X-rays and gamma rays (magenta). The event also ejected a blob of electrons and positrons traveling at about 99% the speed of light. After a few days, they both reached the boundary, called a bow shock, where the magnetar's steady outflow of particles causes interstellar gas to pile up. Light from the flare passed through, followed many seconds later by the expanded cloud of particles. The fast-moving cloud interacted with gas at the bow shock, creating shock waves that accelerated particles and produce gamma rays. This accounts for the delay in the arrival of the highest-energy light detected by NASA's Fermi spacecraft.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318153, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318153", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This sequence shows the estimated locations of bursts now recognized as magnetar giant flares in galaxies far beyond our own. Detections by different spacecraft define bands of possible locations. A box (red outline) defined by the intersection of these bands marks the flare's best position. Portions of the localizations for flares from M81 (2005), M31 and M83 (both in 2007) include these galaxies. In contrast, the localization box for the 2020 flare in NGC 253 lies almost entirely within the galaxy's disk. This is the most precise position yet established for a magnetar located well beyond our galaxy.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, DSS, SDSS, and Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona", "items": [ { "id": 223115, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380498, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Galaxy_Localizations_Still.jpg", "filename": "Galaxy_Localizations_Still.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This sequence shows the estimated locations of bursts now recognized as magnetar giant flares in galaxies far beyond our own. Detections by different spacecraft define bands of possible locations. A box (red outline) defined by the intersection of these bands marks the flare's best position. Portions of the localizations for flares from M81 (2005), M31 and M83 (both in 2007) include these galaxies. In contrast, the localization box for the 2020 flare in NGC 253 lies almost entirely within the galaxy's disk. This is the most precise position yet established for a magnetar located well beyond our galaxy.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, DSS, SDSS, and Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 223118, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380501, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Galaxy_Localizations_1080.mp4", "filename": "Galaxy_Localizations_1080.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This sequence shows the estimated locations of bursts now recognized as magnetar giant flares in galaxies far beyond our own. Detections by different spacecraft define bands of possible locations. A box (red outline) defined by the intersection of these bands marks the flare's best position. Portions of the localizations for flares from M81 (2005), M31 and M83 (both in 2007) include these galaxies. In contrast, the localization box for the 2020 flare in NGC 253 lies almost entirely within the galaxy's disk. This is the most precise position yet established for a magnetar located well beyond our galaxy.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, DSS, SDSS, and Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223119, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380502, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Galaxy_Localizations_1080.webm", "filename": "Galaxy_Localizations_1080.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This sequence shows the estimated locations of bursts now recognized as magnetar giant flares in galaxies far beyond our own. Detections by different spacecraft define bands of possible locations. A box (red outline) defined by the intersection of these bands marks the flare's best position. Portions of the localizations for flares from M81 (2005), M31 and M83 (both in 2007) include these galaxies. In contrast, the localization box for the 2020 flare in NGC 253 lies almost entirely within the galaxy's disk. This is the most precise position yet established for a magnetar located well beyond our galaxy.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, DSS, SDSS, and Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223116, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380499, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Galaxy_Localizations_ProRes_3840x2160_2997.mov", "filename": "Galaxy_Localizations_ProRes_3840x2160_2997.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This sequence shows the estimated locations of bursts now recognized as magnetar giant flares in galaxies far beyond our own. Detections by different spacecraft define bands of possible locations. A box (red outline) defined by the intersection of these bands marks the flare's best position. Portions of the localizations for flares from M81 (2005), M31 and M83 (both in 2007) include these galaxies. In contrast, the localization box for the 2020 flare in NGC 253 lies almost entirely within the galaxy's disk. This is the most precise position yet established for a magnetar located well beyond our galaxy.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, DSS, SDSS, and Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 223117, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380500, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Galaxy_Localizations_4k.mp4", "filename": "Galaxy_Localizations_4k.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This sequence shows the estimated locations of bursts now recognized as magnetar giant flares in galaxies far beyond our own. Detections by different spacecraft define bands of possible locations. A box (red outline) defined by the intersection of these bands marks the flare's best position. Portions of the localizations for flares from M81 (2005), M31 and M83 (both in 2007) include these galaxies. In contrast, the localization box for the 2020 flare in NGC 253 lies almost entirely within the galaxy's disk. This is the most precise position yet established for a magnetar located well beyond our galaxy.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, DSS, SDSS, and Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318154, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318154", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Detections of GRB 200415A by NASA's Fermi, Wind, Mars Odyssey, and Swift missions provide bands of possible locations. These bands overlap in the central region of the Sculptor galaxy.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona", "items": [ { "id": 223120, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380503, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/NGC253_Localization.gif", "filename": "NGC253_Localization.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Detections of GRB 200415A by NASA's Fermi, Wind, Mars Odyssey, and Swift missions provide bands of possible locations. These bands overlap in the central region of the Sculptor galaxy.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona", "width": 800, "height": 450, "pixels": 360000 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318155, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318155", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Giant flares from magnetars in or near the Milky Way evolve in a distinct way, with a quick rise to peak brightness followed by a rapidly fluctuating tail of emission. This spiky tail results from the magnetar's spin bringing the flare's hot spot in and out of view, and it is conclusive evidence of a giant flare. Seen from millions of light-years away, though, this tail emission is too dim to detect with today’s instruments, as shown in this illustration. Because this signature is missing, giant flares in our galactic neighborhood can masquerade as much more distant and powerful merger-type GRBs.

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

", "items": [ { "id": 223121, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380504, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance_Still.jpg", "filename": "Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance_Still.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Giant flares from magnetars in or near the Milky Way evolve in a distinct way, with a quick rise to peak brightness followed by a rapidly fluctuating tail of emission. This spiky tail results from the magnetar's spin bringing the flare's hot spot in and out of view, and it is conclusive evidence of a giant flare. Seen from millions of light-years away, though, this tail emission is too dim to detect with today’s instruments, as shown in this illustration. Because this signature is missing, giant flares in our galactic neighborhood can masquerade as much more distant and powerful merger-type GRBs. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 223124, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380507, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance_1080.mp4", "filename": "Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance_1080.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Giant flares from magnetars in or near the Milky Way evolve in a distinct way, with a quick rise to peak brightness followed by a rapidly fluctuating tail of emission. This spiky tail results from the magnetar's spin bringing the flare's hot spot in and out of view, and it is conclusive evidence of a giant flare. Seen from millions of light-years away, though, this tail emission is too dim to detect with today’s instruments, as shown in this illustration. Because this signature is missing, giant flares in our galactic neighborhood can masquerade as much more distant and powerful merger-type GRBs. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223125, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380508, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance_1080.webm", "filename": "Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance_1080.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Giant flares from magnetars in or near the Milky Way evolve in a distinct way, with a quick rise to peak brightness followed by a rapidly fluctuating tail of emission. This spiky tail results from the magnetar's spin bringing the flare's hot spot in and out of view, and it is conclusive evidence of a giant flare. Seen from millions of light-years away, though, this tail emission is too dim to detect with today’s instruments, as shown in this illustration. Because this signature is missing, giant flares in our galactic neighborhood can masquerade as much more distant and powerful merger-type GRBs. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 223122, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380505, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance_ProRes_3840x2160_2997.mov", "filename": "Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance_ProRes_3840x2160_2997.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Giant flares from magnetars in or near the Milky Way evolve in a distinct way, with a quick rise to peak brightness followed by a rapidly fluctuating tail of emission. This spiky tail results from the magnetar's spin bringing the flare's hot spot in and out of view, and it is conclusive evidence of a giant flare. Seen from millions of light-years away, though, this tail emission is too dim to detect with today’s instruments, as shown in this illustration. Because this signature is missing, giant flares in our galactic neighborhood can masquerade as much more distant and powerful merger-type GRBs. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 223123, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380506, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance_4k.mp4", "filename": "Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance_4k.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Giant flares from magnetars in or near the Milky Way evolve in a distinct way, with a quick rise to peak brightness followed by a rapidly fluctuating tail of emission. This spiky tail results from the magnetar's spin bringing the flare's hot spot in and out of view, and it is conclusive evidence of a giant flare. Seen from millions of light-years away, though, this tail emission is too dim to detect with today’s instruments, as shown in this illustration. Because this signature is missing, giant flares in our galactic neighborhood can masquerade as much more distant and powerful merger-type GRBs. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318156, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318156", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "A GIF version of the above.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "items": [ { "id": 223126, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380509, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance.gif", "filename": "Magnetar_Light_Curve_Change_With_Distance.gif", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A GIF version of the above. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 600, "height": 382, "pixels": 229200 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318157, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318157", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "NGC 253 is a bright spiral galaxy located about 11.4 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor.

Credit: Copyright Dietmar Hager and Eric Benson, used with premission

", "items": [ { "id": 223127, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380510, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/NGC253-Hager-Benson.jpg", "filename": "NGC253-Hager-Benson.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NGC 253 is a bright spiral galaxy located about 11.4 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor. Credit: Copyright Dietmar Hager and Eric Benson, used with premission ", "width": 7000, "height": 6932, "pixels": 48524000 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318158, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318158", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "NGC 253, also known as the Sculptor galaxy or the Silver Dollar galaxy, is a bright spiral located about 11.4 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor.

Credit: Copyright Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona, used with permission

", "items": [ { "id": 223128, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380511, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/NGC253-Block.jpg", "filename": "NGC253-Block.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NGC 253, also known as the Sculptor galaxy or the Silver Dollar galaxy, is a bright spiral located about 11.4 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor. Credit: Copyright Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona, used with permission", "width": 3299, "height": 2200, "pixels": 7257800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318159, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318159", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This illustration shows magnetar giant flares (magenta circles) associated with galaxies well beyond our own. The 2020 flare in NGC 253 is the first one to be located so precisely that the errors in its position all lie within the galaxy's disk. Astronomers now think a few percent of short GRBs really are relatively nearby magnetar giant flares, as opposed to much more distant and powerful merger events.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "items": [ { "id": 223130, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380513, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Extragalactic_all_elements_print.jpg", "filename": "Extragalactic_all_elements_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This illustration shows magnetar giant flares (magenta circles) associated with galaxies well beyond our own. The 2020 flare in NGC 253 is the first one to be located so precisely that the errors in its position all lie within the galaxy's disk. Astronomers now think a few percent of short GRBs really are relatively nearby magnetar giant flares, as opposed to much more distant and powerful merger events.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1024, "height": 723, "pixels": 740352 } }, { "id": 223129, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380512, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Extragalactic_all_elements.png", "filename": "Extragalactic_all_elements.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This illustration shows magnetar giant flares (magenta circles) associated with galaxies well beyond our own. The 2020 flare in NGC 253 is the first one to be located so precisely that the errors in its position all lie within the galaxy's disk. Astronomers now think a few percent of short GRBs really are relatively nearby magnetar giant flares, as opposed to much more distant and powerful merger events.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 5350, "height": 3781, "pixels": 20228350 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318160, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318160", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This illustration shows the three nearest magnetar giant flares (magenta circles) known. The first one erupted in 1979 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite of our Milky Way galaxy located about 163,000 light-years away. The others erupted in 1998 and 2004 within our galaxy. The 2004 event produced brief, measurable changes to Earth's ionosphere despite occurring about 28,000 light-years away.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "items": [ { "id": 223132, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380515, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Galactic_all_elements_print.jpg", "filename": "Galactic_all_elements_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This illustration shows the three nearest magnetar giant flares (magenta circles) known. The first one erupted in 1979 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite of our Milky Way galaxy located about 163,000 light-years away. The others erupted in 1998 and 2004 within our galaxy. The 2004 event produced brief, measurable changes to Earth's ionosphere despite occurring about 28,000 light-years away. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1024, "height": 723, "pixels": 740352 } }, { "id": 223131, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 380514, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013792/Galactic_all_elements.png", "filename": "Galactic_all_elements.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This illustration shows the three nearest magnetar giant flares (magenta circles) known. The first one erupted in 1979 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite of our Milky Way galaxy located about 163,000 light-years away. The others erupted in 1998 and 2004 within our galaxy. The 2004 event produced brief, measurable changes to Earth's ionosphere despite occurring about 28,000 light-years away. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 5350, "height": 3781, "pixels": 20228350 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 318161, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13792/#media_group_318161", "widget": "Basic text", "title": "For More Information", "caption": "", "description": "See [https://www.nasa.gov/universe/nasa-missions-unmask-magnetar-eruptions-in-nearby-galaxies/](https://www.nasa.gov/universe/nasa-missions-unmask-magnetar-eruptions-in-nearby-galaxies/)", "items": [], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "NASA Astrophysics" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Producer", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Science writer", "people": [ { "name": "Francis Reddy", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] }, { "role": "Animator", "people": [ { "name": "Chris Smith", "employer": "USRA" }, { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Narrator", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] }, { "role": "Editor", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "USRA" } ] } ], "missions": [ "Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope", "Swift", "Wind" ], "series": [ "Astrophysics Animations", "Astrophysics Features", "Astrophysics Visualizations", "Narrated Movies" ], "tapes": [], "papers": [ "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03076-9
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03077-8
https://www.nature.com/s41550-020-01287-8", "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03076-9
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03077-8
https://www.nature.com/s41550-020-01287-8" ], "datasets": [], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Universe" ], "keywords": [ "Ast", "Astrophysics", "Edited Feature", "Fermi", "Galaxy", "Gamma Ray", "HDTV", "Magnetar", "Mars Odyssey", "Music", "Neutron Star", "Swift", "X-ray" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 14434, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14434/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NASA’s Fermi Mission Finds 300 Gamma-Ray Pulsars", "description": "This visualization shows 294 gamma-ray pulsars, first plotted on an image of the entire starry sky as seen from Earth and then transitioning to a view from above our galaxy. The symbols show different types of pulsars. Young pulsars blink in real time except for the Crab, which pulses slower because its rate is only slightly lower than the video frame rate. Millisecond pulsars remain steady, pulsing too quickly to see. The Crab, Vela, and Geminga were among the 11 gamma-ray pulsars known before Fermi launched. Other notable objects are also highlighted. Distances are shown in light-years (abbreviated ly).Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Fascination\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA.gov Video YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Pulsar_Still.jpg (3840x2160) [3.5 MB] || Pulsar_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [105.5 KB] || Pulsar_Still_thm.png (80x40) [7.0 KB] || 14434_Fermi_Pulsar_Locations_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [93.9 MB] || 14434_Fermi_Pulsar_Locations_1080.webm (1920x1080) [10.0 MB] || Pulsar_Captions.en_US.srt [46 bytes] || Pulsar_Captions.en_US.vtt [56 bytes] || 14434_Fermi_Pulsar_Locations_4k_Good.mp4 (3840x2160) [112.8 MB] || 14434_Fermi_Pulsar_Locations_4k_Best.mp4 (3840x2160) [689.2 MB] || 14434_Fermi_Pulsar_Locations_ProRes_3840x2160_2997.mov (3840x2160) [4.5 GB] || ", "release_date": "2023-11-28T09:20:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-11-02T14:45:42.228176-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 860036, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014400/a014434/Pulsar_Still_searchweb.png", "filename": "Pulsar_Still_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This visualization shows 294 gamma-ray pulsars, first plotted on an image of the entire starry sky as seen from Earth and then transitioning to a view from above our galaxy. The symbols show different types of pulsars. Young pulsars blink in real time except for the Crab, which pulses slower because its rate is only slightly lower than the video frame rate. Millisecond pulsars remain steady, pulsing too quickly to see. The Crab, Vela, and Geminga were among the 11 gamma-ray pulsars known before Fermi launched. Other notable objects are also highlighted. Distances are shown in light-years (abbreviated ly).Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Fascination\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA.gov Video YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 13864, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13864/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Hubble Tracks Origins Of Energy Blasts", "description": "Fast radio bursts or FRBs, are extraordinary events that generate as much energy in a thousandth of a second as the Sun does in an entire year!Astronomers, using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have traced the locations of eight brief, powerful FRBs; five of which are near or on their host galaxy’s spiral arms. The research helped rule out some of the possible stellar objects originally thought to cause these brilliant flares.For more information, visit https://nasa.gov/hubble. Additional Visualizations:Sunrise over the Pacific: ArtbeatsAnimation of Magnetar: Scott WiessingerFRB Locations Animation: Scott Wiessinger and Chris SmithGamma Ray Burst Illustration: Michael StarobinNeutron Star Merger: Michael StarobinMagnetar Flyby Animation: Chris SmithMagnetar Flare Sequence: Chris SmithMusic Credits: \"Deep Caverns\" by JC Lemay [SACEM] via Koka Media [SACEM], Universal Publishing Production Music France [SACEM], and Universal Production Music. || ", "release_date": "2021-05-20T12:55:00-04:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:44:07.288809-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 378448, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013800/a013864/13864_FRB_WIDE_PRINT.jpg", "filename": "13864_FRB_WIDE_PRINT.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Master VersionHorizontal version. This is for use on any YouTube or non-YouTube platform where you want to display the video horizontally.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 13751, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13751/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NASA Missions Team Up to Study Unique Magnetar Outburst", "description": "On April 28, space- and ground-based observatories detected powerful, simultaneous X-ray and radio bursts from a source in our galaxy. Watch to see how this unique event helps solve the longstanding puzzle of fast radio bursts observed in other galaxies.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Jupiter's Eye\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Magnetar_FRB_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [535.5 KB] || Magnetar_FRB_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [65.5 KB] || Magnetar_FRB_Still_thm.png (80x40) [4.8 KB] || 13751_Magnetar_FRB_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [3.2 GB] || 13751_Magnetar_FRB_Best_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [741.8 MB] || 13751_Magnetar_FRB_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [237.4 MB] || 13751_Magnetar_FRB_Best_1080.webm (1920x1080) [25.7 MB] || Fast_Radio_Burst_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [4.5 KB] || Fast_Radio_Burst_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [4.5 KB] || ", "release_date": "2020-11-04T11:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2023-05-03T13:44:32.489079-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 381635, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013700/a013751/Magnetar_FRB_Still.jpg", "filename": "Magnetar_FRB_Still.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "On April 28, space- and ground-based observatories detected powerful, simultaneous X-ray and radio bursts from a source in our galaxy. Watch to see how this unique event helps solve the longstanding puzzle of fast radio bursts observed in other galaxies.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Jupiter's Eye\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }