This burst was initially reported as lasting for 30 seconds, but later analysis of Swift data shows significant gamma-ray activity as much as 700 seconds after the initial burst! This makes it one of the longest bursts on record, coincidentally just one day after another extremely long burst was found (GRB 060123).

Swift's X-Ray Telescope also detected the burst. It had an unusual X-ray light curve; it was initially flat in brightness then showed several flares of brightness after about 100 seconds. This may be due to clumps of gas or dust a few million kilometers away from the burst reflecting its initial brightness (essentially, an echo of light bouncing off of material near the burst).

An optical afterglow was detected with the 1.34 meter Tautenberg telescope, and confirmed by the Swift Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope and later by several observatories (the image shown is from the Xinglong observatory in China;

). Spectra taken at the monster 10-meter Keck telescope indicate a redshift of this burst of 2.296, corresponding to a distance of 10.7 billion light years.

Details Star Chart Star Field Image Mission Dossier Printable Page Home Burst Details
GRB ID GRB 060124A
Mission Swift
Date 2006/01/24
Time 15:54:51 UTC
Coordinates
Right ascension 05:08:10
Declination 69:42:33
Galactic Lon. 141.99°
Galactic Lat. 17.05°
Constellation of Camelopardalis
Detecting Mission : Swift
Optical Afterglow

An afterglow was detected 184 seconds after the burst at v=17.1