An impressive explosion has led astronomers to discover the first magnetar outside the Milky Way – and suggests the possibility of many more stars out there in the massive universe.
This newly identified magnetar, a compact remnant of a dead star, has an exceptionally strong magnetic field. It is located in the Messier 82 (M82) galaxy, also known as the “Cigar Galaxy,” which is located about 12 million light-years from Earth.
This hypermagnetic object was discovered when it exploded violently, emitting intense energy that lasted for a fraction of a second, as detailed in a new study published in the journal. nature This Wednesday (24th).
Magnetars: The most powerful magnets in the universe
Referred to by some as the most powerful magnets in the universe, magnetars are highly magnetized, rotating forms of neutron stars — supernova remnants — that shine thousands of times brighter than the Sun.
However, their eruptions are very short and unpredictable, making them difficult targets for astrophysicists to study. Only three other magnetic explosions have been documented in the past 50 years (all in the Milky Way), so scientists say this discovery opens new horizons in the search for these magnetic stars in other galaxies.
Ashley Kremes, a researcher at the European Space Agency (ESA), who was not directly familiar with the matter, commented: “Identifying a larger number of these celestial objects could provide insight into the frequency of these explosions and the process of energy dissipation from these stars.” Participation in the study, in press release.
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The magnetar was discovered by the European Space Telescope
In mid-November 2023, the space telescope Full The European Space Agency has detected a brief, sudden burst of gamma rays towards the galaxy M82. This type of radiation is also created during the formation of black holes, the merger of orbiting neutron stars, and other exotic phenomena that have nothing to do with magnetars.
“We knew immediately that this was an exceptional event,” said Sandro Mereghetti, a researcher at the National Institute of Astrophysics in Italy and lead author of the new study. “Gamma-ray bursts can occur from many sources in the universe, but this one in particular was emitted from a bright, nearby galaxy.”
Subsequent observations of the explosion, conducted hours later using ground and space telescopes, were able to determine its source within the “Cigar Galaxy.” Unlike the expected aurora and gravitational waves associated with a traditional gamma-ray burst, astronomers identified only hot gas and stars, confirming that the emission came from a magnetar.
Astronomers explain that this phenomenon, called a “starquake”, occurs when the intense magnetic fields of a magnetar cause a slight distortion of its rotation, disrupting its outer layers and releasing high-energy gamma rays into the universe.
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