Zuhair Benkhaldoun, Director of the Oukaimeden Astronomical Observatory of Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, said that the observatory participated in monitoring the largest explosion in space on the ninth of October, following receiving a notification from international observatories networks.
The burst of gamma rays, the most intense form of electromagnetic radiation, has been detected by telescopes in orbit around the Earth, and its residual light is still being studied by scientists around the world; Research continues to find out more details regarding this phenomenon.
Benkhaldoun said, in a statement to Hespress, that “this explosion is unique because it is the largest explosion that contains the largest energy of the gamma ray type. The latter appears when a very high-energy accident occurs in space.”
The Moroccan astronomer explained that, in addition to “the enormous energy, these rays are characterized by not lasting for a long time, as the brightness fades, which requires the observatories to have a high ability to interact quickly, a feature available at the Oukaimeden Observatory through remote-controlled telescopes.” .
He pointed out that the observatory is involved in several networks to receive these warnings, and that it received a warning regarding the explosion, so telescopes were directed to the place where the explosion occurred to monitor it. He said that “such explosions must be monitored by several telescopes in order to be proven accurately.”
Regarding the astronomical explanation for this phenomenon, Benkhaldoun explained that the occurrence of an explosion of this type may be the result of a star explosion or a collision between large objects such as black holes or a neutron star, adding that preliminary studies suggest, so far, that the cause of the explosion is related to a star that turns into a black hole.
Benkhaldoun expressed his pride in the participation of the Oukaimeden astronomical observatory in this important astronomical discovery, and said that this matter “gives a greater reputation to the observatory and to Moroccan researchers in astronomy.”
The Oukaimeden Astronomical Observatory, affiliated to Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, is located in the Oukaimeden region, 75 kilometers south of Marrakesh, at an altitude of more than 2,700 metres. It has partnerships with several international laboratories and observatories, and has contributed to many astronomical discoveries.
