Cosmic blast: Magnetar explosion rocked Earth on December 27, 2004

[This post is a modified, updated version of an article I wrote a few years back. Since today is the anniversary of the event, I thought it could use

Explorers Program

MAGNETARS', SOFT GAMMA REPEATERS & VERY STRONG MAGNETIC FIELDS

Cosmic blast: Magnetar explosion rocked Earth on December 27, 2004

International Space Agencies - Missions and Discoveries - Civilsdaily

Gamma-ray burst - Wikipedia

Bad Astronomy, Anniversary of a Cosmic Blast

INTEGRAL (INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory) - eoPortal

Mysterious Cosmic Blast Keeps on Going

Bad Astronomy, Anniversary of a Cosmic Blast