SGR 1806-20
Explosion
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/SGR_1806-20_108530main_cloudballPrint.jpg/220px-SGR_1806-20_108530main_cloudballPrint.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/SGR_1806-20_108536main_NeutronStar-Print1.jpg/200px-SGR_1806-20_108536main_NeutronStar-Print1.jpg)
Forty-two thousand years after a starquake occurred on the surface of SGR 1806-20, the radiation from the resultant explosion reached Earth on December 27, 2004 (GRB 041227). In terms of gamma rays, the burst had an absolute magnitude around −29. It was the brightest event known to have been sighted on this planet from an origin outside the Solar System until the GRB 080319B. The magnetar released more energy in one-tenth of a second (1.0×10 J) than the Sun releases in 150,000 years (4×10 W × 4.8×10 s = 1.85×10 J). Such a burst is thought to be the largest explosion observed in this galaxy by humans since the SN 1604 supernova observed by Johannes Kepler in 1604. The gamma rays struck Earth's ionosphere and created more ionization, which briefly expanded the ionosphere. The quake was equivalent to a magnitude 32 on the Richter scale.
A similar blast within 3 parsecs (10 light years) of Earth would severely affect the atmosphere, by destroying the ozone layer and causing mass extinction, and be similar in effect to a 12-kiloton nuclear blast at 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi). The nearest known magnetar to Earth is 1E 1048.1-5937, located 9,000 light-years away in the constellation Carina.
Location
SGR 1806−20 lies at the core of radio nebula G10.0-0.3 and is a member of an open cluster named after it, itself a component of W31, one of the largest H II regions in the Milky Way. Cluster 1806-20 is made up of some highly unusual stars, including at least two carbon-rich Wolf–Rayet stars (WC9d and WCL), two blue hypergiants, and LBV 1806-20, one of the brightest/most massive stars in the galaxy.
See also
Notes
- ^ As measured by various space-based and land-based astronomical observatories, including the Swift spacecraft.
References
- ^ Manchester, R. N.; Hobbs, G.B.; Teoh, A.; Hobbs, M. "PSR J1808-2024 in the ATNF Pulsar Database". atnf.csiro.edu. Australia Telescope National Facility. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Top story – Scientists measure the most powerful magnet known". NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center. 2002-11-04. Archived from the original on 2010-04-28. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
- ^ "Cosmic Explosion Among the Brightest in Recorded History". NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center. 2005-02-18. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
- ^ Plait, Phil (2009-06-18). "OK, so maybe we can be a *little* frightened". Discover Magazine. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ Bob Berman (4 September 2015). "Weird Object: Magnetar SGR 1806-20". Astronomy.com. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Harvard-Smithsonian Center For Astrophysics: Blast Affected Earth From Halfway Across The Milky Way". ScienceDaily. 23 February 2005. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Anniversary of a Cosmic Blast (Phil Plait Dec. 27, 2012)
- An exceptionally bright flare from SGR 1806-20 and the origins of short-duration big gamma-ray bursts, 2005-04-28 (Nature)
- Huge 'star-quake' rocks Milky Way, 2005-02-18, (BBC News Online)
- Brightest galactic flash ever detected hits Earth 2005-02-18 (space.com)
- [1] 2005-02-20 (The Age) Registration required.
- Huge quake cracks star 2005-09-27 (space.com)
- NASA Sees Hidden Structure Of Neutron Star In Starquake (SpaceDaily) April 26, 2006