Off-Axis View Offers Explanation for GRB 260310A’s Unusual Light
Study links side-on view to one of the brightest afterglows ever observed
An international team of researchers argues that the gamma-ray burst GRB 260310A, which appeared relatively faint in its initial gamma flash, may have been viewed from a side angle. The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, offer an explanation for aspects of the burst’s unusual light signature, including its exceptionally bright afterglows in X-ray, optical and radio bands; the X-ray afterglow remained visible for months.