ESA satellites detected a brief, high-energy gamma-ray eruption from a magnetar in galaxy M82, marking the first observation of an extra-galactic magnetar flash.

ESA satellites detected a giant eruption from a magnetar, an extremely magnetic neutron star, in the nearby galaxy M82. The burst, which lasted only a tenth of a second, emitted high-energy gamma-rays. No afterglow was found, leading researchers to conclude that the eruption was an extra-galactic flare from a magnetar. This discovery, published in Nature, marks the first time such a flash has been observed outside the Milky Way and could provide insights into these rare and unpredictable stellar events.

April 24, 2024
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