While observing a spiral galaxy known as NGC 2082, astronomers have discovered a mysterious, bright and compact radio source. Its origin remains unknown to this day.
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From the center of the galaxy NGC 2082, one spiral galaxy Located about 60 millionlight years In the constellation Sea bream, come to us a strong radio signal Of unknown origin. Detected by Astronomy scientists During the monitoring campaigns carried out in 2019 and 2021 by various telescopesresponds to a beautiful name J054149.24-641813.7.
In a study published on arXivits discoverers put forward several hypotheses about its origin, particularly by comparing it with other signs radio specified. It will be remembered in particular, with its spectral index and index brightness High fast radio blastsoften shortened by the FRB acronym for “Fast Radio Blast”. these Blinks Mysterious able to release energy in a few thousandths of a second, as much energy as Sun in a day, but their origin remains unknown to this day.
Quasar or radio galaxy
Unfortunately, J054149.24-641813.7 It does not reach a level of luster sufficient to be absorbed in a quick blastAccording to the researchers. Then a few candidates remained in the race: among them the falsies, pulsar and some nebulae or radio galaxies. But almost all hypotheses have so far been ruled out. Too bright to match A the rest From Supernova but ” Not bright enough to be a stable wireless source with a built-in FRB predecessor”this is mysterious spring It has a flat spectral index, i.e. a source that would be of thermal origin.
This spectral indicator also eliminates another possibility: pulsara periodic signal from a neutron star that rotates very quickly on itself. There are only two possibilities left: quasar Galaxy Radio. Quasars correspond to the active cores of very bright galaxies that have at their center A . giant black holeSuch as Milky Way Houses in the middle Arch A*.
Regarding Radio Galaxiesas their name suggests, they are galaxies whose energy emitted from radio waves comes due to synchrotron radiation. But, whether the source matches one or the other,” We can expect to see some absorb from hello; However, there is currently no Hi High . data Precision for NGC 2082 ”, conclude the researchers. The mystery remains.
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