44-Minute Mystery: A Bizarre Object Discovered in Our Galaxy
Astronomers have discovered a strange cosmic object that’s unlike anything known before. Named ASKAP J1832−0911 , or simply ASKAP J1832 , this mysterious source pulses in both radio waves and X-rays every 44 minutes — a phenomenon that has never been observed.
It belongs to a rare group of space objects known as “long period radio transients,” first identified in 2022. These emit repeated bursts of radio energy, but at much slower intervals than typical pulsars, which pulse many times per second.
What makes ASKAP J1832 truly unique is the detection of X-ray emissions alongside its regular radio pulses — something scientists had not seen before in this type of object. The discovery was made using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Australia’s ASKAP radio telescope , located on Wajarri Yamaji Country.
Researchers are still trying to figure out what exactly ASKAP J1832 is. It could be an extremely magnetic neutron star, or perhaps a white dwarf with unusual properties. Either way, it may represent a completely new class of celestial objects.
This discovery challenges our current understanding of how stars behave — and opens the door to uncovering more hidden mysteries of the universe.
The First-Ever X-Ray Signal from a Rare Cosmic Object
What makes ASKAP J1832 even more intriguing is that it doesn’t just emit radio pulses — it also shines in X-rays , repeating on the exact same 44-minute cycle . This marks the first time X-ray emissions have ever been detected from one of these rare, slow-blinking space objects.
Using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory , scientists were able to capture this surprising signal. In a stunning composite image, data from different sources come together: X-rays in blue , infrared light from Spitzer Space Telescope in cyan and orange, and radio waves from LOFAR in red. A detailed close-up reveals the exact location of the object and the origin of its strange signals.
Even stranger? Over six months, ASKAP J1832’s brightness dropped dramatically in both radio and X-ray wavelengths . This unusual combination — regular short pulses paired with long-term fading — has never been seen before in our galaxy.
Scientists are still scratching their heads. ASKAP J1832 doesn’t fit into any known category of stars or cosmic systems, and could be pointing to an entirely new type of astronomical phenomenon.
Defying Known Categories: What Exactly Is ASKAP J1832?
The research team says ASKAP J1832 doesn’t fit the profile of a typical pulsar or a neutron star feeding off a companion star — its radio and X-ray patterns just don’t match those seen in such systems.
One possibility is that it could be an older type of neutron star known as a magnetar , with an extremely powerful magnetic field and an age of over half a million years. While some of its traits align with this idea, others don’t — especially its bright and fluctuating radio emissions , which are unusual for a magnetar that old.
In short, ASKAP J1832 remains a cosmic puzzle. It behaves in ways that challenge our current understanding of stellar objects, and may represent something entirely new in the universe’s catalog of mysteries.
Could ASKAP J1832 Be Linked to a Supernova?
ASKAP J1832 appears to sit inside the remains of a supernova remnant — the expanding cloud left behind after a massive star explodes. These remnants often house neutron stars , the dense cores left over from such explosions. At first glance, this might suggest ASKAP J1832 is related to that past explosion.
However, researchers believe the alignment is likely just a coincidence. Their analysis suggests the two are not physically connected, which makes them doubt that ASKAP J1832 is a neutron star at all.
Instead, they’re exploring other possibilities — like a white dwarf star paired with a companion object. But for this scenario to work, the white dwarf would need to have an extremely powerful magnetic field , stronger than any ever observed in our galaxy.
The mystery deepens.
A study led by Ziteng Wang of Curtin University, published in Nature , presents these findings. On the same day, another team using China’s DAocheng Radio Telescope also announced the discovery — though their report did not include the X-ray observations that make ASKAP J1832 so unique.