Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope: Science highlights for the first 8 months

Abstract The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescopewas launched on June 11, 2008 and since August 2008 has successfully been conducting routine science observations of high energy phenomena in the gamma-raysky. A number of exciting discoveries have been made during its first year of operation, including blazarflares, high-energy gamma-ray bursts, and numerous new gamma-raysources of different types, among them pulsars and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). Fermi-LAT also performed accurate measurement of the diffuse gamma-radiation which clarifies the “GeV excess” reported by EGRETalmost 10 years ago, high precision measurement of the high energy electron spectrum, and other observations. An overview of the observatory status and recent results as of April 30, 2009, are presented.