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Strong cosmic ray hits the earth

Strong cosmic ray hits the earth

,   and  ASMedia
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Strong cosmic ray hits the earth
Strong cosmic ray hits the earth

Strong Cosmic Pummeling on Earth's Surface

Celestial Rumble on Earth's Terrain

Earth recently experienced a strong whack from cosmic rays, as revealed by researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University in Japan. The precise source remains a mystery, but the impact was so potent that the researchers dubbed it "Amaterasu," after the Japanese sun goddess.

Journey from the abyss to the desert

The cosmic event was captured by the Telescope Array Observatory in the desert of Utah, USA, on May 27, 2023. Japan-based experts, led by astrophysicist Toshihiro Fujii from the University of Utah, have been studying this desert to uncover such peculiar occurrences for years.

Telescope Array capturing cosmic particles in the Utah desert

Since 2007, Telescope Array has been documenting the desert's 300 square miles, measuring the frequency and intensity of Earth's encounters with events like "Amaterasu." The analyzed data is then published in comprehensive studies, sometimes delayed for months after discovery.

Unmatched Energy on Earth

The might of "Amaterasu" was pegged at 244 exaelectron volts (EeV), surpassing any artificially generated energy on Earth. Researchers detailed this prodigious occurrence in the current issue of " Science" magazine.

The roots of its origin remain a riddle. However, we can pinpoint the particles' point of arrival: an empty expanse in space nestled at the edge of the Milky Way.

Researchers have not recorded such an intense beam for three decades. For reference, a cosmic ray named "Oh my God" was identified on Earth in 1991, carrying a strength of 320 EeV.

  1. Cosmic rays recorded in May 2023 have immensely intrigued astronomers and cosmologists.
  2. Toshihiro Fujii, an astrophysicist affiliated with the University of Utah, offers insightful analysis to the project's data collection efforts at Telescope Array Observatory in Utah's desert.
  3. The "Amaterasu" cosmic ray event holds an energy estimate of approximately 244 exaelectron volts (EeV), marking a substantial milestone in our planetary system as reported in Science magazine.
  4. Debate surrounds the origin of the "Amaterasu" cosmic ray, although an empty expanse in space at the Milky Way's periphery is identified as a strong contender, hinting at connections stretching across the cosmos.

[1]: [citation needed] [4]: [citation needed]

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Enrichment Insights (limited to 15% of the total content)

  1. Energy and Detection
  2. "Amaterasu" boasted an energy of approximately 244 EeV when detected by the Telescope Array (TA) Observatory in Utah.
  3. Observation and Analysis
  4. The "Amaterasu" event was observed in May 2023, and its extremely high energy made it a noteworthy finding in the realm of UHECRs.
  5. Source Localization
  6. Various models, such as the KST24 Galactic Magnetic Field (GMF) model, were employed to trace the particle's trajectory and estimate its source region. However, GMF modeling uncertainties impede precise localization.
  7. Significance in UHECR Astronomy
  8. The "Amaterasu" event is significant because it underscores the challenges in tracking UHECR origins. Deflection in the Galactic Magnetic Field (GMF) and GMF modeling uncertainties make it difficult to pinpoint sources directly.
  9. Future Directions
  10. Future GMF models should incorporate more accurate pulsar data to minimize uncertainties and improve predictions of UHECR deflections, assisting in more reliable source localization.

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