Dead star pulsing every eight minutes is caught orbiting a Sun-like star
Researchers discover rare star system that emits radio signals every 8 minutes
Astronomers at Curtin University's ICRAR node traced mysterious radio pulses to GPM J071507−114153, a white dwarf locked in orbit with a G-type star like our Sun — the first time such pulses have been seen from this pairing. The signal was clear enough to show the white dwarf moving, pinning the source to its vicinity. The team also spotted stellar flares and a plasma prominence on the companion, all from over 5,000 light-years away.
It's amazing that by using radio wavelengths we can detect the storms on a star over 5000 light-years away.
- dekhn
I don't think the title is really accurate- it doesn't emit radio signals every 8 minutes, it emits constantly, but emits along an axis that periodically aligns with our viewing cone.
- rq1
“long-period transients“
What wait, 8mn is a long period?
I checked the fastest pulsar observed rotates and “emits” at 716Hz! :shock:
That’s ~70.000km/s on the equator given its ~30km diameter :shock: :shock:
- stronglikedan
If this thing has been sending repeating signals for what I presume to be a very long time, shouldn't we have already detected it? Or is it that we've always been able to detect this particular signal, but have only just now traced it to its source?
- Kuyawa
Why would you send signals at a fixed interval? That would instantly label you as a natural phenomena instead of organic intent
Make it random, at least receivers would have a harder time identifying intentions
- cartan
Nuke them before it's too late!