Science: Astronomers have cataloged an impressive trove of more than 500 of the most powerful explosions in the universe. These so-called gamma-ray bursts, or gamma-ray bursts, are so energetic that if even one of them occurred within 1,000 light-years of Earth, it could destroy our atmosphere and have catastrophic consequences for life on our planet. Fortunately, the next GRB in this new series of 535 observations is located 77 million light-years from Earth. The new list was created by a global team of 50 astronomers led by Maria Giovanna Denotti of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan using data from 455 telescopes around Earth.
This list rivals in importance the Messier List of 110 deep celestial objects created by French astronomer Charles Messier 250 years ago — a list that is still used today by astronomers of all levels of experience. “Our research expands our understanding of these mysterious cosmic explosions and reflects a collaborative effort between countries,” Denotti said in a statement. “The result is similar to the catalog created by Messier 250 years ago, who classified the dark sky objects observed at that time.” Team member Alan Watson of the National Autonomous University of Mexico also emphasized the importance of the GRB catalog, praising it as “a great resource” that can help “expand the boundaries of our knowledge.”
