Gamma ray bursts seem to be relics from the early universe, perhaps stars exploding with unimaginable fury. Despite their power, their light is still just a faint dot on the sky by the time it reaches Earth, making their study tricky. Satellites are used to detect the initial wave of gamma rays from the explosion and get a rough idea of where they come from. This week's was so bright it made that job easier, with the fading afterglow visible with even small telescopes. Astronomers hope the event will help answer some of their questions about the mysterious gamma ray bursts.
Nobody really knows what they are.