A γ-ray burst at a redshift of z~8.2
Abstract
Long-duration γ-ray bursts (GRBs) are thought to result from the explosions of certain massive stars, and some are bright enough that they should be observable out to redshifts of z>20 using current technology. Hitherto, the highest redshift measured for any object was z = 6.96, for a Lyman-α emitting galaxy. Here we report that GRB090423 lies at a redshift of z~8.2, implying that massive stars were being produced and dying as GRBs ~630Myr after the Big Bang. The burst also pinpoints the location of its host galaxy.
- Publication:
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Nature
- Pub Date:
- October 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1038/nature08459
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0906.1577
- Bibcode:
- 2009Natur.461.1254T
- Keywords:
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- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- Submitted to Nature