(ORDO NEWS) — Astronomers have detected a new FRB-type radio burst. Scientists have been recording such extragalactic signals since 2007. They have not yet been studied and are a huge mystery to researchers. Previously, it was believed that these are single signals. Now we have established the fact that the bursts are repeated at different intervals.
This is reported by Science Alert.
The extragalactic radio burst FRB 20200120E repeats cyclically at regular intervals. Astronomers have been able to trace where it comes from. According to the calculations, the new signal source is located only 11.7 million light years from Earth. Previously, the closest signal was detected at a distance of 40 times that distance. The supposed location of the FRB 20200120E signal is the galaxy M81. So far, the new outburst is considered the closest to our planet.
The radio signal came from a cluster of old stars. Such globular clusters have an unusual history of origin. All the stars in them are formed at the same time from one cloud of gases. No new cosmic bodies are formed in globular clusters. You can compare them with an old, close-knit family in which nothing happens. Therefore, astronomers did not expect to record a signal from such a place. Most radio bursts are detected near neutron stars and magnetars.
FRBs can form due to a low-mass X-ray binary system: a dwarf and a star, a star and an exoplanet, etc. The theory that FRBs appear under the influence of black holes is also considered. Now these two theories are actively explored by the world‘s best astrophysicists.
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