Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Fermi, Swift spy outburst from gamma-ray star

February 10th, 2009

NASA's Swift satellite and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have keyed in on a rowdy stellar remnant 30,000 light-years away. The object, already known as a source of pulsing radio and X-ray signals, lies in the southern constellation Norma. It kicked out some moderate eruptions in October, but then it settled down again. Late last month, it roared to life.

"At times, this remarkable object has erupted with more than a hundred flares in as little as 20 minutes," said Loredana Vetere, who is coordinating the Swift observations at Pennsylvania State University. "The most intense flares emitted more total energy than the sun does in 20 years."

http://www.universetoday.com/2009/02/10/fermi-swift-spy-outburst-from-gamma-ray-star/