If GRB-221009A had been in Milky Way, would we have been fried?

I
Thread starter swampwiz
Start date Apr 2, 2023
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Milky way

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Apr 2, 2023

swampwiz

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GRB_221009A

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Apr 2, 2023

DaveC426913

Gold Member

No. It occurred 1.9 billion years ago! :oldbiggrin:

We would all be in the ocean depths for another 1.5 billion years. Also, "we" are all just cyanocbacteria.
BTW, "A mass extinction occurred around 2 billion years ago, wiping out up to 99.5% of life on Earth..."

Related to If GRB-221009A had been in Milky Way, would we have been fried?

What is GRB-221009A?

GRB-221009A is a Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB), which is an extremely energetic explosion observed in distant galaxies. GRBs are the brightest electromagnetic events known to occur in the universe, and they can release more energy in a few seconds than our Sun will emit in its entire 10-billion-year lifetime.

How far away was GRB-221009A from Earth?

GRB-221009A was detected in a distant galaxy, far outside the Milky Way. The exact distance can vary depending on the specific GRB, but typically, GRBs are billions of light-years away from Earth.

What would happen if a GRB occurred within the Milky Way?

If a GRB occurred within the Milky Way and was directed towards Earth, it could have catastrophic effects. The intense gamma radiation could strip away the Earth's ozone layer, leading to increased ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, which could result in severe ecological damage and potentially mass extinctions.

Would we have been "fried" if GRB-221009A had been in the Milky Way?

If GRB-221009A had been within the Milky Way and pointed directly at Earth, the intense gamma radiation could have caused significant harm to the Earth's atmosphere and surface life. While "fried" is a dramatic term, the potential damage could include severe radiation exposure, disruption of the climate, and widespread biological impacts.

Is it likely for a GRB to occur in the Milky Way and affect Earth?

While GRBs are relatively common in the universe, the likelihood of one occurring within the Milky Way and being directed precisely at Earth is extremely low. The vastness of space and the specific conditions required for a GRB to impact Earth make such an event highly improbable.