The January 29, 2025 gamma-ray burst observed by TAROT telescopes

At 4:45 a.m. on January 29, 2025, the Swift satellite detected a gamma-ray burst from the explosion of a star 11 billion light-years away.

IRAP operates the TAROT telescope network, made up of four observatories around the world connected to the events detected by the Swift satellite.

One hundred seconds after its explosion, the gamma-ray burst was observed by both TAROT telescopes in Chile and the Calern observatory in France. The first measurements are simultaneous with the gamma-ray emission, which lasted an exceptional duration of 200 seconds. The optical emission was followed by TAROT for three hours, and its evolution promises an interesting physical interpretation.

The 1-metre telescope on the Pic du Midi was also used over the following days, enabling us to follow the decrease in brightness for up to eight days after the burst.

The illustration shows the incredible perspective offered by three stars, apparently close together in the image, but so far apart when their distances are considered.

The TAROT network is operated by CNRS in collaboration with CNES.

IRAP Contact

• Alain Klotz, alain.klotz@irap.omp.eu