WHAT IS AN ASTRONOMICAL TRANSIENT?
An astronomical transient is any celestial object whose brightness changes rapidly over a short period. These objects are known for their violent and energetic phenomena.
WHY ARE TRANSIENTS IMPORTANT?
Astronomers study transients to understand the powerful processes behind their rapid brightness changes. This helps in understanding more stable astronomical events and the dynamics of the universe.
EXAMPLES OF ASTRONOMICAL TRANSIENTS
Supernovae: These occur when the outer layers of large stars explode as their cores collapse due to the depletion of fusion elements. Supernovae can become extremely bright, sometimes outshining their entire host galaxy.
Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN): Found at the centers of massive galaxies, supermassive black holes can consume surrounding matter, causing it to emit energy and vary in brightness.
Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs): Discovered in 2007, these mysterious transients emit massive amounts of energy in a few milliseconds. Despite extensive research, their exact cause remains unknown.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
On May 21, 2024, Indian-American astronomer Shrinivas Kulkarni was awarded the Shaw Prize for Astronomy for his significant contributions to the understanding of astronomical transients.
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