measure distances in the distant Universe tagged posts

Measuring the Universe with Star-Shattering Explosions

Conceptual image of this research: using Gamma Ray Bursts to determine distance in space. (Credit: NAOJ)

An international team of 23 researchers led by Maria Dainotti, Assistant Professor at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), has analyzed archive data for powerful cosmic explosions from the deaths of stars and found a new way to measure distances in the distant Universe.

With no landmarks in space, it is very difficult to get a sense of depth. One technique astronomers use is to look for “standard candles,” objects or events where the underlying physics dictate that the absolute brightness (what you would see if you were right next to it) is always the same...

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