Astronomers identify largest cosmic explosion ever observed

[webfact]

Photo Courtesy Bangkok Post

 

by Jenn

A colossal cosmic explosion, now identified as the largest ever witnessed, has left astronomers puzzled and eager to conduct further research. The fireball, known as AT2021lwx, is a hundred times the size of our Solar System and initially started blazing in the distant universe over three years ago.

 

Although not the brightest explosion ever registered, AT2021lwx is considered the largest due to the release of far more energy over the past three years compared to other events such as the recently recorded gamma-ray burst, known as BOAT. Philip Wiseman, an astrophysicist at the University of Southampton and the lead author of a new study on this subject stated that the discovery of AT2021lwx was accidental.

The explosion was first spotted by the Zwicky Transient Facility in California during an automated sky sweep in 2020, however, it remained unnoticed until the following year.

 

It was only when astronomers viewed it through more powerful telescopes that they recognized the astonishing scale of the event. Through the analysis of different wavelengths of light, they determined that the explosion occurred approximately eight billion light years away.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/world/astronomers-identify-largest-cosmic-explosion-ever-observed

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-12

 

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[chickenslegs]

6 minutes ago, webfact said:

The fireball, known as AT2021lwx, is a hundred times the size of our Solar System and initially started blazing in the distant universe over three years ago ...

 

 ...Through the analysis of different wavelengths of light, they determined that the explosion occurred approximately eight billion light years away.

"Over 3 years ago" ????More like 8,000,000,000 years ago - long before our Earth was formed.

(Okay, over 3 years is, technically, correct)

 

[OneMoreFarang]

4 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Okay, over 3 years is, technically, correct

That reminds me of my friend who is now almost 80. When anybody asks him about his age, he tells them: over 50. ????

[OneMoreFarang]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

A colossal cosmic explosion, now identified as the largest ever witnessed, has left astronomers puzzled and eager to conduct further research.

I think it is amazing that something like that is news in mainstream media.

How many of the readers will even have a faint idea about the physics?

 

It's like discussing the registers in a CPU or the chemical reactions from rocket fuel. Only experts will understand it. And they won't look at those news in mainstream media.

For everybody else it's just: Look at that nice picture (which in most cases is something made by an artist and no actual picture).

Strange.

[Chomper Higgot]

38 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think it is amazing that something like that is news in mainstream media.

How many of the readers will even have a faint idea about the physics?

 

It's like discussing the registers in a CPU or the chemical reactions from rocket fuel. Only experts will understand it. And they won't look at those news in mainstream media.

For everybody else it's just: Look at that nice picture (which in most cases is something made by an artist and no actual picture).

Strange.

I disagree.

 

I read the article in the press this morning then went online looking up some of the things it discussed, I’m sure very many people did likewise.

 

Teach high and your class will follow.

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

That reminds me of my friend who is now almost 80. When anybody asks him about his age, he tells them: over 50. ????

I just say old enough.

[nobodysfriend]

On 5/12/2023 at 4:53 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

I think it is amazing that something like that is news in mainstream media.

How many of the readers will even have a faint idea about the physics?

 

It's like discussing the registers in a CPU or the chemical reactions from rocket fuel. Only experts will understand it. And they won't look at those news in mainstream media.

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