June 13, 2023 - The Mysterious AT2021lwx Explosion: What We Know So Far - In the vast expanse of space, there are countless mysteries waiting to be uncovered. One such mystery is the cosmic explosion known as AT2021lwx. This explosion, located 8 billion light years from Earth, has been erupting for three years now, emitting two trillion times the light of our sun and 10 times the energy of the brightest supernova ever observed. The very existence of such a formation—never before observed by astronomers—is further proof that there are whole new species of astronomical phenomena yet to be discovered.

So, what do we know about this mysterious explosion? The truth is, not much. Scientists are still trying to understand what caused the flare. Some have suggested that it could be an exploding star, but the flash is 10 times brighter than any previously seen “supernova”. Another possibility is what is called a tidal disruption event, when a star is torn apart as it is sucked into a supermassive black hole. However, further follow-up and modeling of AT2021lwx is necessary to reveal more about the scenario that caused the flare.

AT2021lwx was first detected in 2020 by the Zwicky Transient Facility in California during an automated sweep of the sky. It was subsequently picked up by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) based in Hawaii. These facilities survey the night sky to detect transient objects that rapidly change in brightness indicating cosmic events such as supernovae, as well as finding asteroids and comets.

Since its discovery, scientists have continued to study this explosion and gather more data. The team investigated the object further with several different telescopes: the Neil Gehrels Swift Telescope (a collaboration between NASA, the UK and Italy), the New Technology Telescope (operated by the European Southern Observatory) in Chile, and the Gran Telescopio Canarias in La Palma, Spain.

As scientists continue to study this explosion and gather more data, we may gain new insights into the workings of our universe. Only time will tell what secrets this explosion holds.

Some more FAQs related to AT2021lwx

Q: What is AT2021lwx? A: AT2021lwx is a cosmic explosion located 8 billion light years from Earth that has been erupting for three years now. It emits two trillion times the light of our sun and 10 times the energy of the brightest supernova ever observed.

Q: What caused the AT2021lwx explosion? A: Scientists are still trying to understand what caused the flare. Some have suggested that it could be an exploding star or a tidal disruption event, when a star is torn apart as it is sucked into a supermassive black hole. However, further follow-up and modeling of AT2021lwx is necessary to reveal more about the scenario that caused the flare.

Q: When was AT2021lwx first observed? A: AT2021lwx was first detected in 2020 by the Zwicky Transient Facility in California during an automated sweep of the sky. It was subsequently picked up by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) based in Hawaii.

Q: What additional research has been done on AT2021lwx? A: Since its discovery, scientists have continued to study this explosion and gather more data. The team investigated the object further with several different telescopes: the Neil Gehrels Swift Telescope (a collaboration between NASA, the UK and Italy), the New Technology Telescope (operated by the European Southern Observatory) in Chile, and the Gran Telescopio Canarias in La Palma, Spain.

Q: What research is planned on AT2021lwx? A: Further follow-up and modeling of AT2021lwx is necessary to reveal more about the scenario that caused the flare. As scientists continue to study this explosion and gather more data, we may gain new insights into the workings of our universe.