A timelapse compiled from data collected by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope between August 2008 and August 2022 reveals a captivating view of the Universe’s gamma radiation. Fermi, launched in 2008, has been instrumental in studying gamma radiation sources, including those emanating from supernova remnants, pulsar stars, quasar and blazar galaxies, and other energetic celestial phenomena.
Gamma radiation, being the most energetic light in the cosmos, is typically blocked by Earth’s atmosphere, necessitating the deployment of telescopes like Fermi in space to capture this elusive light. The recently released timelapse showcases the diverse sources of gamma radiation observed by Fermi over the course of 14 years.
Judy Racusin, an astronomer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, notes, “One of the first things to strike your eye in the movie is a source that steadily arcs across the screen. That’s our Sun, whose apparent movement reflects Earth’s yearly orbital motion around it.” While the Sun emits relatively dim gamma radiation continuously due to cosmic radiation bombardment, it occasionally produces intense flares that briefly become the brightest objects in the gamma-ray sky.
Blazar galaxies dominate the timelapse, characterized by an active supermassive black hole at their core. These black holes, while not emitting visible light, feed on surrounding dust and gas, generating intense gamma radiation. The gamma rays detected by Fermi primarily originate from jets of material ejected from the black holes’ poles at near-light speeds. Blazar galaxies, with their jets pointed directly at Earth, appear exceptionally bright in Fermi’s observations.
Seth Digel of SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, responsible for creating the images in the timelapse, highlights the Milky Way’s steady gamma-ray glow, interrupted by days-long flares from supermassive black holes in distant galaxies. These eruptions, occurring millions to billions of years ago, contribute to the ongoing scientific exploration of Fermi’s data.
Additional sources of gamma radiation captured in the timelapse include supernova remnants like the Crab Nebula, exploding stars, and pulsars. Notably absent are shorter duration events, such as gamma-ray bursts from supernovae, due to data processing considerations.
Fermi, initially planned for a 5 to 10-year mission, has exceeded expectations, operating for over 15.5 years and continuing its mission to unravel the mysteries of the Universe’s most powerful events and entities. The timelapse serves as a testament to Fermi’s enduring contributions to our understanding of gamma radiation sources across the cosmos.
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Reference: https://www.sciencealert.com/incredible-timelapse-reveals-the-sky-gleaming-with-gamma-rays
