GRB 090423
 |
|
| Other designations | GRB 090423A, GRB 090423 |
|---|---|
| Event type |
Gamma-ray burst 
|
| Observation | |
| Date | 23 April 2009
|
| Duration | 10±1 second
|
| Instrument |
Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission
|
| Location | |
| Constellation |
Leo
|
| Right ascension | 09h 55m 33.08s |
| Declination | +18° 08′ 58.9″ |
| Distance | 13,000,000,000 ly (4.0×109 pc) |
| Characteristics | |
| Energetics | |
| See also | |
|
[]
|
|
GRB 090423 was a gamma-ray burst (GRB) detected by the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission on April 23, 2009 at 07:55:19 UTC whose afterglow was detected in the infrared and allowed astronomers to determine that its redshift is z = 8.2, which makes it the 3rd most distant object detected to date with a spectroscopic redshift.
A gamma-ray burst is an extremely luminous event flash of gamma rays that occurs as the result of an explosion, and is thought to be associated with the formation of a black hole. The burst itself typically only lasts for a few seconds, but gamma-ray bursts frequently produce an "afterglow" at longer wavelengths that can be observed for many hours or even days after the burst. Measurements at these wavelengths, which include X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and radio, allow follow up study of the event.
The finite speed of light means that GRB 090423 is also the earliest object ever detected for which a spectroscopic redshift has been measured. The universe was only 630 million years old when the light from GRB 090423 was emitted, and its detection confirms that massive stars were born and dying even very early on in the life of the universe. GRB 090423 and similar events provide a unique means of studying the early universe, as few other objects of that era are bright enough to be seen with today's telescopes.
On April 23, 2009 at 07:55:19 UTC the Swift satellite detected a burst that lasted about 10 seconds and was located in the direction of the constellation Leo.
...
Wikipedia