SGR 0501+4516: a high-energy blast from a new 'dead' star

Magnetars are the most intensely magnetised objects in the Universe.
They exhibit magnetic field strengths which are 1015 times stronger 
than that of the Earth.
On 2008 August 22 a new magnetar, labelled SGR 0501+4516, underwent 
an outburst, which was promptly observed by INTEGRAL a few days after 
its activation.  This led to the first discovery of transient hard X-ray 
emission in a magnetar, which faded out within about 10 days from the 
onset of the eruption. The left panel shows the IBIS-ISGRI image of 
SGR 0501+4516 taken 5 days after the outburst activation, while in the 
right panel the IBIS-ISGRI non-detection about 10 days later is shown. 
On both images the BAT error circle is superimposed on the SGR 0501+4516 
position.

Related links:
* Giant eruption reveals 'dead' star (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMLEDQORVF_index_0.html) 
  (ESA news release story)
* At last! After 10 years a new Soft Gamma Repeater is observed 
  (http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=45022) 
  (ESA Science & Technology web pages)
* The first outburst of the new magnetar candidate SGR 0501+4516 
  (http://arxiv.org/abs/0904.2413) (MNRAS in press)