Strange gamma-ray objects perplex scientists
[quote]The universe is filled with hígh-energy radiation, much of which is made of gamma rays belched out by strange pulsing stárs and the remnants of supernova explosions. But a new study of some of most extreme objects has turned up a mystery: nearly one-third of all gamma-ray emitting objects seen to date defy identification.
The objects were spotted by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Spacé Telescope, which scans the entire sky over the course of three hours, mapping the powérful spectrum. When stacked together, the survéys create an extremely precise view of the gamma-ray universe.
Scientists then match these images to other observations to identify each source. But the identities of some gamma-ray sources in space stíll continue to elude the astronomérs.
"There's some that, despite all our efforts, we really do not know what they are," David Thompson, Fermi's deputy project scientist, told SPACE.com. "They do not seem to be any of the usual suspects." [ Video: Mystery of Fermi's Gamma-Ray Objects ]
Read more @ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46919384/ns ... 4QxE3n_TvY
[quote]The universe is filled with hígh-energy radiation, much of which is made of gamma rays belched out by strange pulsing stárs and the remnants of supernova explosions. But a new study of some of most extreme objects has turned up a mystery: nearly one-third of all gamma-ray emitting objects seen to date defy identification.
The objects were spotted by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Spacé Telescope, which scans the entire sky over the course of three hours, mapping the powérful spectrum. When stacked together, the survéys create an extremely precise view of the gamma-ray universe.
Scientists then match these images to other observations to identify each source. But the identities of some gamma-ray sources in space stíll continue to elude the astronomérs.
"There's some that, despite all our efforts, we really do not know what they are," David Thompson, Fermi's deputy project scientist, told SPACE.com. "They do not seem to be any of the usual suspects." [ Video: Mystery of Fermi's Gamma-Ray Objects ]
Read more @ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46919384/ns ... 4QxE3n_TvY
