Modest gamma-ray flash traced to powerful off-axis stellar jet

An international team of astronomers linked a weak gamma-ray flash to one of the brightest afterglows recorded in 20 years, concluding that Earth sat outside the jet's most intense beam. The findings support an off-axis jet model.

• The afterglow ranks among the brightest in the past 20 years
• Earth's off-axis position explains the modest gamma-ray flash
• The jet emits most intensely along its axis