On this day in 2004, forty-two thousand years after a powerful explosion occurred on the surface of the magnetar, a class of neutron star with a powerful magnetic field, located in the constellation of Sagittarius, the resultant gamma ray reached Earth, the brightest event known to have been experienced on the planet with an origin outside the universe, the incredibly dense and compact star (only fifteen kilometres in diameter) designated as SGR 1806-20 and discovered in 1979 as a gamma-repeater (see previously) releasing as much energy in a tenth of a second as the Sun will in one hundred and fifty thousand years. The expanding cloud, shock wave of radiation briefly enlarged the ionosphere and it is estimated that a comparable blast within ten light years of Earth would ravage the atmosphere and destroy the ozone layer.
synchronoptica
one year ago: solfรจge in other languages (with synchronoptica)
seven years ago: messianic complexes, one of small character, memories of y2k plus an inverted skyscraper
eight years ago: assorted links worth revisiting plus telegraphing kisses
nine years ago: banana supply chains plus more links to enjoy
ten years ago: tiny houses, Russian metro stations plus stress and motivation