Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on September 15, 2011 at 2:50pm

Seriously neat stuff!  Thanks for posting!

Permalink Reply by Dallas (on hiatus) on September 15, 2011 at 5:11pm

Hope you like (or liked) it.

Permalink Reply by George on September 15, 2011 at 3:28pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_Gamma-Ray_Burst_Mission

 

Swift is a multi-wavelength space-based observatory dedicated to the study of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs).

Permalink Reply by Dallas (on hiatus) on September 15, 2011 at 5:10pm

Thanks for the link:

 

Science goals

• To determine the origin of GRBs. There seem to be at least two types of GRBs, only one of which can be explained with a hypernova, creating a gamma-ray beam. More data is needed to explore other explanations.
• To use GRBs to expand understanding of the young universe. GRBs seem to take place at "cosmological distances" of many millions or billions of light-years, which means they can be used to probe the distant, and therefore young, cosmos.
• To conduct an all-sky survey which will be more sensitive than any previous one, and will add significantly to scientific knowledge of astronomical X-ray sources. Thus, it could also yield unexpected results.
• To serve as a general purpose gamma-ray/X-ray/optical observatory platform, performing rapid "target of opportunity" observations of many transient astrophysical phenomena, such as supernovae.

Permalink Reply by George on September 15, 2011 at 5:50pm

Youtube's been busy.

This is the 2nd video today I've seen taken down in the middle of watching it.

Permalink Reply by Dallas (on hiatus) on September 15, 2011 at 6:01pm

Darnit. I watched this weeks ago and have been meaning to post it. I should have done it then.

 

I'll check back periodically and see if it has been reposted in the future. Otherwise, try your library.

Permalink Reply by Anne Atheist on September 16, 2011 at 5:25pm

Try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duoHtJpo4GY

Permalink Reply by Dallas (on hiatus) on September 16, 2011 at 6:13pm

This looks like the same program, with slight variation, made for Nat Geo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WneZlr2d8s

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on September 17, 2011 at 1:36pm

Thanks for posting this!  Very interesting!