Bright idea."Enigmatic Eruptions: Gamma-ray bursts gamma-ray burst n. A short-lived, localized, and intense burst of gamma radiation that originates outside the solar system from an unknown source. lack supernova supernova, a massive star in the latter stages of stellar evolution that suddenly contracts and then explodes, increasing its energy output as much as a billionfold. fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to " (SN: 9/23/06, p. 196) states that gamma-ray bursts are "a million trillion times as bright as the sun." The sun is so bright that humans can't look directly at it from 93 million miles away. How can we possibly wrap our minds around something a million trillion times brighter? Astronomy is great. DONALD KAUFMANN, PHILADELPHIA, PA. |
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