Mysterious object found in Milky Way works like an X-ray machine, sends signals every 44 minutes

Economic Times

4 days ago

AP This image provided by NASA shows X-rays from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory (represented in blue) that have been combined with infrared data from NASA's retired Spitzer Space Telescope (cyan, light blue, teal and orange), and radio from MeerKat (red). An inset shows a more detailed view of the immediate area around this unusual object in X-ray and radio light. (NASA/Chandra/Spitzer/MeerKat via AP)
A mysterious object in our galaxy is sending powerful signals into space every 44 minutes, and scientists are still trying to figure out what it is. The object, designated as ASKAP J1935+2148, was discovered by chance and has behavior unlike anything seen before.The discovery is exciting and puzzling because it doesn't match the known patterns of any existing space object.
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The object was first detected in 2023 using Australia's ASKAP (Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder) radio telescope. It was observed while scientists were looking at something else entirely, a supernova remnant. A supernova remnant is the structure resulting from the explosion of a star in a supernova.
Soon after, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory picked up X-rays from the same sky spot. The two telescopes working together confirmed that the object was emitting both X-rays and radio waves in sync every 44 minutes, lasting for a few minutes each time.This pattern of emissions makes it the first known example of a "long-period transient" emitting in both radio and X-ray wavelengths.
So far, scientists believe it could be a type of dead star, such as a neutron star or a white dwarf. These stars remain after larger stars explode or collapse. But this one is strange; it behaves like nothing else in its category.Neutron stars usually spin fast and send out bursts every few seconds or milliseconds. This object is slow but emits X-rays in 44 minutes, making it unique. It's too slow to be a typical pulsar but too active to be considered completely dormant.
Some astronomers think it may represent a new type of magnetar, a neutron star with a powerful magnetic field. Others believe it could be entirely new and not yet classified by scientists.
The mysterious object is located about 15,000 light-years from Earth, within the Milky Way galaxy. That's relatively close in space terms, especially considering the galaxy spans 100,000 light-years.It lies in a dense part of the galaxy filled with gas, dust, and other stars, which makes it hard to observe in detail. However, its powerful and periodic signals reach us loud and clear.
This discovery is important because it challenges our knowledge of dead stars and cosmic signals. Astronomers have studied stars for decades, but this object doesn't fit existing theories.'If it's a neutron star, it's unlike any we've ever seen,' said Ziteng Wang, lead author of the research from Curtin University in Australia.It also shows that even well-known parts of space can surprise us.
Also Read: 300 years after alchemy failed, CERN scientists finally turn lead into gold Scientists plan to use different telescopes to observe ASKAP J1935+2148 closely. They hope to learn more about how it works and what it's made of.As new telescopes like the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) come online in the next few years, researchers may discover more objects like this, and maybe even explain what they are.For now, this strange X-ray emitting thing remains one of the most mysterious objects in our galaxy.
The Milky Way is named for its milky white appearance as a dim band of light across the night sky, caused by countless distant stars. Its name comes from a Greek myth where the goddess Hera's spilled milk formed this glowing band.
Our Solar System, including Earth, is located about 26,000 to 27,000 light-years from the Milky Way's center, situated on the inner edge of the Orion Arm (also called the Orion Spur), a minor spiral arm between the larger Sagittarius and Perseus arms.The Milky Way is a single galaxy and does not contain other galaxies within it. However, it has about 100 to 400 billion stars and is part of the Local Group, which includes over 50 galaxies, such as the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies.