.jpeg)
Astronomers have identified a repeating radio signal that is also emitting X-rays, a first-of-its-kind observation that may point to an entirely new class of astronomical objects. The object, named ASKAP J1832-0911, was detected using the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the discovery was published in the journal Nature. Known as a long-period radio transient (LPRT), this source emits radio bursts every 44 minutes, lasting about two minutes each. Unlike anything seen before, this cosmic beacon is forcing scientists to reconsider what they know about neutron stars, white dwarfs, and the potential for entirely new astrophysical models.
First Detection Across Such Wide Wavelengths
ASKAP J1832-0911 stands out not just for its periodicity but for being the only known LPRT to emit both radio wavesand X-rays in sync. Most similar sources flicker briefly and disappear before telescopes can lock onto them again, but this object has remained visible for over ten months, displaying fluctuations in brightness but keeping to a steady cycle. The synchronized peaks in radio and X-ray emissions leave little doubt that they originate from the same source. “Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack,” Wang said in a statement. “The ASKAP radio telescope has a wide field view of the night sky, while Chandra observes only a fraction of it. So, it was fortunate that Chandra observed the same area of the night sky at the same time.” This rare coincidence has allowed scientists to examine both ends of the electromagnetic spectrum, offering unprecedented insights into these elusive objects.
What Kind of Object is ASKAP J1832-0911?
Theories about what exactly is producing these signals range from exotic to groundbreaking. Some researchers suggest it could be a magnetar, the dense, magnetized core of a dead star. Others propose a more complex origin—a binary system containing a highly magnetized white dwarf, which is a faint, collapsed star nearing the end of its life cycle. “ASKAP J1831-0911 could be a magnetar (the core of a dead star with powerful magnetic fields), or it could be a pair of stars in a binary system where one of the two is a highly magnetized white dwarf (a low-mass star at the end of its evolution),” Wang says. While both models are technically feasible, neither fully aligns with the observed data. The required magnetic field for a white dwarf would need to exceed 5 billion Gauss—just outside the current observational range but not beyond theoretical limits. A magnetar would offer a simpler explanation in terms of field strength, yet its behavior doesn’t entirely fit the mold.
A Crowded Sky Hides More than It Reveals
One reason it’s taken so long to pinpoint this object is its location—about 15,000 light-years away in an especially busy region of the Milky Way. The area is dense with stars, gas, and interstellar dust, making it difficult to detect emissions in optical or infrared wavelengths. Even with powerful tools like the Spitzer Space Telescope, infrared surveys have turned up nothing. This is not surprising, as dust can obscure even the brightest stars at these ranges. “The discovery of its transient X-ray emission opens fresh insights into their mysterious nature.” Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) are still pending, and may yet reveal more about this enigmatic source. For now, the object remains invisible across much of the spectrum, reinforcing its status as one of the most mysterious celestial phenomena ever recorded.
More to Come?
ASKAP J1832-0911 is the tenth LPRT discovered, but the first to emit in X-rays as well. This might be an indicator of a broader, yet undetected, population of similar objects. “Finding one such object hints at the existence of many more,” says astronomer Nanda Rea of the Institute of Space Science and the Catalan Institute for Space Studies in Spain. The discovery opens up new possibilities for understanding how stellar remnants behave under extreme physical conditions. It also revives discussions about alternative forms of stellar evolution and the mechanisms behind such long-period emissions. “However, even those theories do not fully explain what we are observing. This discovery could indicate a new type of physics or new models of stellar evolution.” If confirmed, ASKAP J1832-0911 might be the harbinger of a whole new branch of astrophysical science, revealing the galaxy to be more complex and dynamic than previously thought.
