Mystery Space Object Firing X-Rays And Radio Flashes At Us Is 'Alien' To Scientists

Last Updated:May 31, 2025, 23:10 IST

Researchers suggest that ASKAP J1832-0911 is a dead star, though its exact type remains unknown and scientists are uncertain about the mechanisms behind these signals

ASKAP J1832-0911 was first discovered by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and falls under the category of 'long-period radio transients' (LPTs), which are known for emitting strong radio waves over extended periods of tens of minutes. Image: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Scientists have identified a curious object in the Milky Way, around 15,000 light-years from Earth, exhibiting behaviour never seen before. Named ASKAP J1832-0911, this mysterious source is the first to emit both energetic X-rays and radio flashes, doing so continuously for two minutes every 44 minutes.

ASKAP J1832-0911 was first discovered by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and falls under the category of “long-period radio transients" (LPTs), which are known for emitting strong radio waves over extended periods of tens of minutes. According to NASA, these emissions last thousands of times longer than the typical pulses from pulsars, which are fast-spinning neutron stars.

Curtin University researcher and team leader Zieng (Andy) Wang remarked, “Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack. 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."

Since their discovery in 2022, LPTs have been known as cosmic bodies that produce radio pulses at intervals ranging from minutes to hours. Astronomers have identified around 10 such objects, but ASKAP J1832-0911 stands out as truly unique.

With the help of Chandra, researchers have found that ASKAP J1832-0911 emits X-rays at regular intervals of 44 minutes, making it the first long-period radio transient observed to show such behaviour.

Scientists remain uncertain about the mechanisms behind these signals and why LPTs switch between active and inactive phases at both predictable and unpredictable intervals.

Researchers suggest that ASKAP J1832-0911 is a dead star, though its exact type remains unknown. Some propose it could be a magnetar—the highly magnetic core of a dead star—while others suggest it might be a binary system, with one star being a highly magnetised dwarf.

(With agency inputs)

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