Currently, sci.esa.int is under review and not being updated. For the latest information and news from ESA science missions and scientific results, please visit esa.int. For a comprehensive overview of ESA’s Science Programme and its missions, please refer to science.esa.int. For in-depth technical information aimed at ESA's scientific communities, you may also wish to consult cosmos.esa.int.

Asset Publisher

Back Integral's view of a gamma-ray burst

Integral's view of a gamma-ray burst


Copyright: ESA. Illustration by the Integral SPI Team & ESA/ECF

On 25 November 2002, a powerful explosion, known as a gamma-ray burst (GRB), appeared in front of Integral. For about 20 seconds, a shower of gamma rays bathed the spacecraft and was captured by the gamma-ray imager (IBIS) and the spectrometer (SPI) on-board Integral. This is the first time ever that a gamma-ray burst has been captured using such a powerful gamma-ray camera. Scientists expect about one GRB every month to appear in the direction that the spacecraft happens to be looking. Most GRBs are believed to be the death of an extremely massive star in the distant Universe. According to a second theory, however, GRBs may come from the collision of two neutron stars, which are extremely dense objects. This particular GRB, designated GRB021125, is thought to have been located about 5 thousand million light years away. When they occur, GRBs shine as brightly as hundreds of galaxies each containing millions upon millions of stars.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
12-Apr-2026 13:15 UT

ShortUrl Portlet

Shortcut URL

https://sci.esa.int/s/APZnvEW

Latest Selection

Also Available As

Related Images

Related Videos

Related Publications

Related Links

See Also

Documentation