NASA | Blazar Bonanza

The video explores the journey of gamma rays from the distant galaxy Parks 1441, highlighting the role of NASA's Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope and ground-based observatories like Magic and Veritas in detecting these high-energy emissions. Despite the challenges posed by the extragalactic background light, which often erases gamma rays, the detection of these rays provides valuable insights into cosmic history and the universe's evolution. The video emphasizes the rarity and significance of such detections, as they offer a glimpse into the universe when it was half its current age.

What is the primary challenge faced by NASA's Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope in observing gamma rays?

• Its location in space

• Its requirement to operate only during the day

• Its limited collecting area

• Its inability to detect visible light

What phenomenon occurs when high-energy gamma rays strike the upper atmosphere?

• They transform into visible light

• They disappear completely

• They create a black hole

• They produce Cherenkov radiation

What is the extragalactic background light?

• Light from nearby galaxies

• Remnant glow from cosmic history

• Radiation from Earth's atmosphere

• Light emitted by the sun

Why are extremely energetic gamma rays rare?

• They are blocked by other galaxies

• They are too weak to detect

• They often convert into particles

• They are absorbed by Earth's atmosphere

What information do gamma rays from PKS 1441+25 provide?

• The composition of black holes

• The distance to nearby stars

• The age of the universe

• Insights into the universe's history