Astronomers have detected a perplexing signal, ASKAP J1832-0911, emanating from 15,000 light-years away. This object emits consistent pulses of radio waves and X-rays every 44 minutes for a duration of two minutes. The discovery was made using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.
This marks the first instance where a long-period transient (LPT) has been observed emitting both X-rays and radio signals. Researchers have noted a decline in both X-ray and radio wave emissions over several months of observation, a phenomenon not previously documented in the Milky Way. The object was discovered on May 28, 2025.
Dr. Ziteng Wang suggests potential explanations such as a magnetar or a binary star system featuring a magnetized white dwarf. However, these theories remain incomplete, highlighting the unique and unexplained nature of ASKAP J1832-0911's behavior. Further observations in infrared and X-ray wavelengths are planned to help confirm the nature of this object.