Hubble mystery light puzzles astronomers

[Ivan Seeking]

Almost three years ago, astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope were perusing a cluster of galaxies about eight billion light-years from Earth when they came upon a flash of light unlike anything they had seen before.

Over the next 100 days, the object gradually brightened. Then it spent another 100 days growing dimmer, until it finally vanished from view.

Astronomers speaking last week at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Long Beach, Calif., still have no idea what it was — or is...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28622042/

 

[mgb_phys]

Posted here https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=284577

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

I find this discovery of a mysterious light in a distant cluster of galaxies fascinating and puzzling. The fact that it appeared and disappeared within a relatively short period of time and without any clear explanation raises many questions and challenges our current understanding of the universe.

One possible explanation for this phenomenon could be a supernova explosion, where a star reaches the end of its life and violently explodes, releasing a burst of light. However, the gradual brightening and dimming of the light over a period of 100 days does not fit with the typical behavior of a supernova.

Another possibility is that the light could be caused by a tidal disruption event, where a star gets too close to a supermassive black hole and is torn apart, releasing a bright flare of light. However, this explanation also has its limitations and does not fully explain the observations made by the astronomers.

It is also possible that this mysterious light could be the result of a completely new and unknown phenomenon in the universe. This discovery highlights the fact that there is still so much we do not know about the vast and complex universe we live in.

In order to better understand this phenomenon, further observations and studies will be needed. Perhaps with the help of advanced telescopes and technology, we can uncover the true nature of this mysterious light and expand our understanding of the universe. The Hubble Space Telescope has been a valuable tool in unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos, and I am confident that it will continue to provide valuable insights in the future.