Betting On The Most Distant Gamma Ray Burst Ever Seen: Extreme Distance Determined With Gemini Observatory Images

Gemini Observatory color composite image of the afterglow of GRB 090429B - a candidate for the most distant object in the universe. This "izH" image has been constructed from three images taken at the Gemini Observatory North telescope through different optical and infrared filters (the infrared images were obtained using the Gemini Near-Infrared Imager, NIRI, optical, non-detection data from the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph, GMOS). The red color results from the absence of all optical light, which has been absorbed by hydrogen gas in the distant universe. Without that absorption, the afterglow color would be bluer than any of the galaxies and stars seen in this field of view. The position of the afterglow is indicated.