A team of astronomers has identified a mysterious space object that emits both radio and X-ray pulses in a regular 44-minute cycle. The object, dubbed ASKAP J1832-0911, displays a behavior that researchers describe as unprecedented in the field of astronomy.
The discovery was made using Australia’s ASKAP radio telescope and later corroborated by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, which observed synchronized X-ray emissions. Scientists are now confronted with a phenomenon that challenges existing classifications of known space objects.
The object’s repeating two-minute signals caught the attention of the research team due to their precision and dual-wave nature. ASKAP J1832-0911 emits pulses in both the radio and X-ray bands, an uncommon pairing that adds complexity to its nature. ASKAP had initially detected the pattern through its wide-field radio observations, while the X-ray bursts were spotted by Chandra, which was simultaneously monitoring the same region of the sky.
This coincidental alignment of observations has led to what the lead author of the study, Dr. Ziteng Wang of Curtin University and ICRAR, called a rare opportunity. Describing the finding, Wang said that observing X-rays in conjunction with radio waves “felt like finding a needle in a haystack,” especially since none of the ten previously observed long-period transients (LPTs) had shown such behavior.
A Space Signal That Ticks Like Clockwork
ASKAP J1832-0911 has been preliminarily categorized as a long-period transient, a class of objects known for emitting signals over extended time intervals. Yet what sets this case apart is the object’s simultaneous emission of both radio and X-ray signals in a fixed 44-minute cycle. According to information published by the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), the signals come in two-minute bursts and repeat consistently.
Unlike other known LPTs, this is the first time one has been observed to emit X-rays. NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, despite covering only a small fraction of the sky, captured emissions that were precisely timed with those detected by ASKAP. This synchronicity has drawn interest, as the presence of high-energy X-rays requires any theoretical explanation to span multiple regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Theories Tested, None Confirmed
According to Dr. Ziteng Wang, the object’s behavior does not fully align with current theories involving known stellar phenomena such as magnetars or binary systems with magnetized white dwarfs. Although these remain among the leading hypotheses, neither model satisfactorily accounts for the combination of radio and X-ray emissions observed in ASKAP J1832-0911.
Professor Nanda Rea of the Institute of Space Science in Spain, co-author of the study, noted that the detection of transient X-ray emissions represents a major step forward. She emphasized that the ability to scan for both types of emissions will likely enhance detection rates and support further investigation into the nature of such sources.
A New Roadmap for Tracking Cosmic Anomalies
The findings point to a potential shift in how astronomers search for and categorize unusual space objects. According to the team cited by The Debrief, simultaneous radio and X-ray emissions will now serve as a significant marker for identifying new long-period transients. This approach could help refine the criteria used in large-scale sky surveys and improve efficiency in tracking similar anomalies.
