Distant Star Exhibits Unexplained Behavior

Astronomers have discovered a star displaying peculiar behavior for which no satisfactory explanation has been found yet. Named ASKAP J1832-0911, the star is located 15,000 light-years away. Observations with the Australian SKA Pathfinder radio telescope (ASKAP) revealed it to be a long-period radio transient, emitting radiation that varies slowly—every 44 minutes in this case. The true nature of such objects, first identified in 2022, remains unknown.

Further studies with the Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO) showed the star also emits X-rays with the same 44-minute periodicity. Additionally, both radio and X-ray emissions exhibit a much slower decline over six months. Published in Nature on May 28, the findings by Ziteng Wang and colleagues at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) in Australia leave the star's behavior unexplained.

Current models involving neutron stars or magnetars do not fit the observations. The astronomers speculate it could be a white dwarf in a binary system with an unusually strong magnetic field, but ASKAP J1832 remains a mystery for now.