Astronomers have detected a unique object, ASKAP J1832-0911, located 15,000 light-years away, emitting pulses every 44 minutes in both X-ray and radio wavelengths. This object represents a newly identified class of astronomical phenomena called long-period radio transients (LPTs). Compared to pulsars, which emit faster signals, LPTs have slower, periodic emissions. This finding was enhanced by coincidental observations from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, underscoring the significance of dual detection in understanding these peculiar cosmic phenomena.
The find was all the more stunning because the signal is coming in the form of both X-rays and radio waves, a rare dual nature for astronomical phenomena.
Discovering the dual nature of LPTs in such a coincidental manner 'felt like finding a needle in a haystack,' according to lead researcher Ziteng 'Andy' Wang.
The newly-discovered class of space phenomena known as 'long-period radio transients'...occur in fixed intervals of minutes or hours, making them remarkably slow.
The ASKAP radio telescope has a wide field view of the night sky, allowing astronomers to detect unusual phenomena that would otherwise go unnoticed.
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