Star Explodes Halfway Across Universe

[Mugu]

By SETH BORENSTEIN

WASHINGTON (AP) - The explosion of a star halfway across the universe was so huge it set a record for the most distant object that could be seen on Earth by the naked eye.

The aging star, in a previously unknown galaxy, exploded in a gamma ray burst 7.5 billion light years away, its light finally reaching Earth early Wednesday.

The gamma rays were detected by NASA's Swift satellite at 2:12 a.m. "We'd never seen one before so bright and at such a distance," NASA's Neil Gehrels said. It was bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.

snip

Before it exploded, the star was about 40 times bigger than our sun. The explosion vaporized any planet nearby, Gehrels said.


Read complete article at:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080321/D8VI0D6O0.html

[kickysnana]

1. I wondered why my extron commuications had ceased.

:silly: :shrug: :cry:

[lligrd]

2. Isn't This Old News? lol nt

[jaysunb]

3. Oh My ! I hope no one got hurt

:rofl:

( sorry, it's a full moon tonight )

[ashling]

4. This is how it looks digitally:

Words are flowing out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Images of broken light which
dance before me like a million eyes
They call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a
restless wind inside a letter box
they tumble blindly as
they make their way across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world

Sounds of laughter shades of life
are ringing through my open ears
inciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai guru deva
Jai guru deva

[Wilms]

5. The song came to mind, as did this story.

NASA Beams Lennon's 'Across The Universe' Toward North Star

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=228x38040

[ashling]

6. Me too

:hi:

[bean fidhleir]

7. And it happened before Earth even existed

If it's 7.5G light years away, then we're seeing what happened 7.5G years ago. Earth is 4G years old.

[POAS]

9. More anti-creationist propaganda...n/t

[Perry Logan]

8. I blame the Clintons.

[joeybee12]

10. Was it because of her impending divorce from her gay husband?

Did her Court TV show get canceled?

[A HERETIC I AM]

11. That'll teach those rebels to piss off the Empire.

They don't call them "Star Destroyers" for nothing, you know.