GRB 060218

Supernova
name = GRB060218/SN 2006aj
type = Unknown
epoch = J2000
SNRtype = Unknown
host = SDSS J032139.68+165201.7
redshift = 0.03342
constellation = Aries
ra =03^h 21^m 39.71^s
dec = +16° 52′ 02.6″
gal = 166.9257 -32.8802
discovery = February 18 2006
iauc =
mag_v = ca 17.8 (February 23)
distance = 440,000,000 ly
progenitor = Unknown
progenitor_type = Unknown
b-v = Unknown
notes = Rare GRB+SN sequence.


caption =

GRB 060218 (and SN 2006aj) was a gamma ray burst (abbreviated as GRB) with unusual characteristics never seen before. This GRB was detected by the Swift satellite on February 18, 2006, and its name is derived from the date. It was located in the constellation Aries.

GRB 060218's duration (almost 2000 seconds) and its origin in a galaxy 440 million light years away are far longer and closer, respectively, than typical gamma ray bursts seen before, and the burst was also considerably dimmer than average despite its close distance.

As of February 2006, the phenomenon was not yet well understood. However, an optical afterglow to the gamma ray burst has been detected and is brightening, and some scientists believe that the appearance of a supernova (SN 2006aj) may be ongoing.

Four different groups of researchers, lead by Sergio Campana, Elena Pian, Alicia Soderberg, Paolo Mazzali respectively, carried out the investigation of the phenomenon and presented their results in "Nature" magazine on August 31, 2006 [cite web|title=X-rated supernova|url=http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7106/edsumm/e060831-08.html|publisher=Nature|accessdate=2006-08-31] They found the strongest evidence yet that supernovas and GRBs might be linked, because GRB 060218 showed signs of both the GRB and the supernova. The exploding star is believed to have had the boundary mass (about 20 Solar masses) for supernovas to leave either a black hole or a neutron star after its explosion. [cite web|title=Strange Exploding Star Unlocks Supernova Secrets|url=http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060830_grb_supernova.html| accessdate=2006-08-31]

References

External links

* http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=19106
* http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060223_explosion.html
* http://skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1683_1.asp
* http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn8776.html
* http://sabbe.fragzone.se/KPO/grb060218.htm
* [http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20060224/sc_space/nasadetectstotallynewmysteryexplosionnearby YahooNews]
* [http://www.aavso.org/observing/programs/hen/archive/060218-charts.shtml Finder Charts for GRB 060218] shows the area of the sky prior to the incident.
* More NASA observational reports at the [http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/other/060218.gcn3 Burst Information (Current and Archives)]
* [http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?protocol=html&Ident=SN+2006aj&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id Simbad]
* [http://aladin.u-strasbg.fr/AladinPreview?-c=03+21+39.71%2B16+52+02.6&ident=SN+2006aj&submit=Aladin+previewer Image SN 2006aj]