Posted on 07/22/2015 4:28:31 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: If gamma-rays were raindrops a flare from a supermassive black hole might look like this. Not so gently falling on the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope from June 14 to June 16 the gamma-ray photons, with energies up to 50 billion electron volts, originated in active galaxy 3C 279 some 5 billion light-years away. Each gamma-ray "drop" is an expanding circle in the timelapse visualization, the color and maximum size determined by the gamma-ray's measured energy. Starting with a background drizzle, the sudden downpour that then trails off is the intense, high energy flare. The creative and calming presentation of the historically bright flare covers a 5 degree wide region of the gamma-ray sky centered on 3C 279.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Video Credit: NASA, DOE, International Fermi LAT Collaboration]
I hate “modern art”.
If memory serves, it was the first "quasar" ever discovered.
In addition to being incredibly luminous, the spectrum of the light it emits is unlike that of normal stars.
According to Wikipedia, 3C279 is one of the brightest gamma ray sources in the entire sky.
If it emits gamma rays as a result of thermodynamic processes, the temperatures in its vicinity are so high as to be hard to believe and impossible to comprehend.
Quasars prove the truth of the words of British astronomer Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington: Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine.
Sir Arthur passed away 27 years before 3C279 was discovered.
Gamma-ray Rain from 3C 279?
Do I need a plutonium umbrella?.........................
The animation is fascinating, Mr. Civilizations.
Great APOD! Thank you so much.
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