Fermi Makes First Gamma-ray Study of a Gravitational Lens

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MargaritaMc
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Fermi Makes First Gamma-ray Study of a Gravitational Lens

Post by MargaritaMc » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:25 pm

NASA's Fermi Makes First Gamma-ray Study of a Gravitational Lens


An international team of astronomers, using NASA's Fermi observatory, has made the first-ever gamma-ray measurements of a gravitational lens, a kind of natural telescope formed when a rare cosmic alignment allows the gravity of a massive object to bend and amplify light from a more distant source.
This accomplishment opens new avenues for research, including a novel way to probe emission regions near supermassive black holes. It may even be possible to find other gravitational lenses with data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.
Click to play embedded YouTube video.
Read a lot more, see some photos at
http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/january/ ... sw3qYxFD5B
"In those rare moments of total quiet with a dark sky, I again feel the awe that struck me as a child. The feeling is utterly overwhelming as my mind races out across the stars. I feel peaceful and serene."
— Dr Debra M. Elmegreen, Fellow of the AAAS

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geckzilla
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Re: Fermi Makes First Gamma-ray Study of a Gravitational Len

Post by geckzilla » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:27 pm

The trick is to not use https when trying to embed YouTube videos.
Just call me "geck" because "zilla" is like a last name.

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MargaritaMc
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Re: Fermi Makes First Gamma-ray Study of a Gravitational Len

Post by MargaritaMc » Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:41 pm

How wonderful to have an expert on hand! Thank you very much, Geckzilla
M
"In those rare moments of total quiet with a dark sky, I again feel the awe that struck me as a child. The feeling is utterly overwhelming as my mind races out across the stars. I feel peaceful and serene."
— Dr Debra M. Elmegreen, Fellow of the AAAS

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