Astronomers Have Uncovered a Mysterious Ultra-High Energy Gamma Ray Source in Space
The Daily Galaxy • • general
Key Points:
- LHAASO J2108+5157, discovered in 2021 by the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory, emits ultra-high energy gamma rays exceeding 100 TeV but has no identifiable counterpart in radio, optical, or infrared wavelengths, making it a unique and mysterious cosmic source.
- Unlike typical high-energy gamma-ray sources linked to supernova remnants or pulsar wind nebulae, LHAASO J2108+5157 lacks any known associated object or clear distance measurement, complicating efforts to understand its nature.
- A Spanish team led by Josep Martí conducted near-infrared observations combining archival data and new measurements, but found no structures like shocked gas or supernova remnants; a nearby radio source initially
