NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

European Satellites Probe a New Magnetar

NASA's Swift satellite detected a rare interstellar object known as a soft gamma repeater, or SGR. The object is only the fifth confirmed SGR.

New Gamma-Ray Burst Smashes Cosmic Distance Record

NASA's Swift satellite and an international team of astronomers have found a gamma-ray burst from a star that died when the universe was only 630 million years old.

Swift’s Comet Tally Highlighted in Observatory Webcast

A montage of comet images made using NASA’s Swift spacecraft illustrates just how different three comets can be.

NASA's Swift Spies Comet Lulin

While waiting for high-energy outbursts and cosmic explosions, NASA's Swift Gamma-ray Explorer satellite is monitoring Comet Lulin as it closes on Earth.

Swift, Fermi Probe Gamma-Ray Fireworks

Astronomers using NASA's Swift satellite and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope are seeing frequent blasts from a stellar remnant 30,000 light-years away.

Gamma-Ray Burst Offers First Peek at a Young Galaxy's Star Factory

Astronomers have, for the first time, identified gas molecules in the host galaxy of a gamma-ray burst.

NASA's Swift Shows Active Galaxies Are Different Near and Far

An ongoing X-ray survey undertaken by NASA's Swift spacecraft is revealing differences between nearby active galaxies and those located about halfway across the universe.

Swift Looks to Comets for a Cool View

Swift caught sight of a splintered comet fragment as it passed by the Ring Nebula.

A Star That Bursts, Blinks and Disappears

Astronomers are reporting on a strange case where one of the littlest of stars "twinkled" with gamma rays, X-rays, and light -- and then vanished.

Swift Naked Eye Telecon Main Page

NASA will hold a media teleconference Wednesday, September 10, at 1 p.m. EDT to discuss new results regarding the naked-eye gamma-ray burst, the brightest seen to date.

NASA's Swift Spots Farthest Gamma-Ray Burst

NASA's Swift satellite has found the most distant gamma-ray burst ever detected. The blast arose from a star 12.8 billion light-years away.

NASA's Swift Catches a Star Going 'Kaboom!'

Thanks to NASA's Swift satellite, astronomers have seen a star actually blow up.

Pipsqueak Star Unleashes Monster Flare

On April 25, NASA’s Swift satellite picked up a record-setting flare from a star known as EV Lacertae.

NASA's Swift Sees Double Supernova in Galaxy

In just the past six weeks, two supernovae have flared up in an obscure galaxy in the constellation Hercules.

Hybrids in the Universe?

Scientists recently made a discovery that forced them to re-think their theories on the most powerful explosions in the cosmos - gamma ray bursts.

Twin Star Explosions Fascinate Astronomers

Scientists using NASA's Swift satellite stumbled upon a rare sight, two supernovae side by side in one galaxy.

Monster Stellar Flare Seen by NASA Scientists Dwarfs All Others

Monster flare was perhaps the most energetic magnetic stellar explosion ever detected.

Scientists Detect New Kind of Cosmic Explosion

This new cosmic explosion which appears to be a precursor to a supernova will achieve peak brightness within a week.

Cosmic Explosion Could Be Black Hole Swallowing Neutron Star

Cosmic Explosion Among the Brightest in Recorded History

Scientists have detected a flash of light brighter than anything ever detected from beyond our Solar System.