SGR 1806-20

A massive stellar corpse, also known as a magnetar, SGR 1806-20 is responsible for gigantic gamma ray bursts that affect planetary atmospheres as far as 50 000 light years away. The events are thought to be linked with starquakes on the star's surface.

Location

SGR 1806-20 lies at the core of radio nebula G10.0-0.3 and is a component of cluster 1806-20, itself a component of W31, one of the largest H II regions in the Milky Way. Cluster 1806-20 is made up of many exotic and highly unusual stars, including at least two carbon-rich type WR stars (WC9d and WCL), two blue hypergiants, and LBV 1806-20, one of the brightest/most massive stars in the galaxy.