Hidden Galaxy Home to Gamma-ray Burst 9 Billion Years Ago | NOIRLab

Hidden Galaxy Home to Gamma-ray Burst 9 Billion Years Ago | NOIRLab

This image captured by the Gemini North telescope reveals the previously unrecognized galactic home of the gamma-ray burst identified as GRB 151229A. GRBs are the most powerful class of explosions in the universe. Astronomers calculate that this gamma-ray burst, which lies in the direction of the constellation Capricornus, occurred approximately 9 billion years ago.

The Gemini North telescope is located on Hawaii‘s Maunakea as part of the international community of observatories built to take advantage of the superb atmospheric conditions on this long-dormant volcano which rises about 4214 meters (13,825 feet) into the dry, stable air of the Pacific. 

Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/National Science Foundation (NSF)/Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)

Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab)

Release Date: July 26, 2022

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