Real Science - Earth Under Attack?

[Cmdr JFarrington 0]

Of course I'm not serious, but it seems strange to me that an inconsequential planet in a minor solar system on the edge of a galaxy (read: "Mostly Harmless") would have something like this aimed straight at us. I suppose the operative word here is "almost," but it makes me wonder. It also makes my mind churn - fodder for missions and logs?

 

'Naked-eye' gamma-ray burst was aimed squarely at Earth

 

Unparalleled data from satellites and observatories around the globe show that the jet from a powerful stellar explosion on March 19 was aimed almost directly at Earth. The event, called a gamma-ray burst, became bright enough for human eyes to see. The burst's extraordinary brightness arose from a jet that shot material directly toward Earth at 99.99995 percent the speed of light. NASA's Swift satellite, controlled by Penn State from its Mission Operations Center at University Park, detected the explosion.

 

Read the full story on Live: http://live.psu.edu/story/34433/nw1

[Mreh K'hal 0]

Thankfully, GRB 080319B is 7.5 Gly (Giga light years) away so there was no potential for making Earth, Extra Crispy on the galactic planetary menu this time. As they said it hit a mag 5.3, which is about equal to our view of one of the outer solar system planets. (Like golf, a lower score is better in apparent magnitude, a full moon for example is in the -12s) Considering the distance, getting down to the fives shows just how much energy is in one of these bursts. Hopefully, none of our stellar neighbors will do this any time soon.

[Grom 0]

Gamma rays should stay in their own quadrant. ;)

[V'Roy 0]

Gamma rays should stay in their own quadrant. ;)

That means Alpha waves can never leave ours.

[Travis Kroells 0]

Thankfully, GRB 080319B is 7.5 Gly (Giga light years) away so there was no potential for making Earth, Extra Crispy on the galactic planetary menu this time.

 

I was watching something on TV about Gamma Ray Bursts a few months ago. From what I remember, they're super powerful, and happen super far away. The real worry is that one would happen in a galaxy near to us, or even in the Milky Way.

[Sam_SemaJ 0]

inconsequential planet in a minor solar system on the edge of a galaxy (read: "Mostly Harmless")

 

...as in a planet at the unfashionable end of the left spiral?

[Tachyon 0]

Thankfully, GRB 080319B is 7.5 Gly (Giga light years) away so there was no potential for making Earth, Extra Crispy on the galactic planetary menu this time.

If it was an attack, not only do the attackers have incredibly precise aim, but also very good prophetic calendars. ;)

[Princess T'lak 0]

I was watching something on TV about Gamma Ray Bursts a few months ago. From what I remember, they're super powerful, and happen super far away. The real worry is that one would happen in a galaxy near to us, or even in the Milky Way.

 

 

You were most likely watching How the world would end on History channel. It featured Stephen Hawking.

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

They're super powerful, generally super-far away, and very focused. For us to see one nearly directly into the beam is amazingly rare, which is what makes this so exciting. Think about it like someone randomly shining a laser beam into a room with a marble somewhere in it. Most of the time we just see the dim side-on beam, this time we got to actually look right at the "laser" generator.

[Tachyon 0]

They're super powerful, generally super-far away, and very focused. For us to see one nearly directly into the beam is amazingly rare, which is what makes this so exciting. Think about it like someone randomly shining a laser beam into a room with a marble somewhere in it. Most of the time we just see the dim side-on beam, this time we got to actually look right at the "laser" generator.

Laser pointers, eh? /me ponders doing this near Cait....