Astronomers produce significant star cluster image - and discover mysterious radio signal
Astronomers have created the most sensitive radio image ever of an ancient star cluster – and discovered a radio signal at the centre of it.
The image, which can be seen above, is of the second brightest globular cluster in the night sky, known as 47 Tucanae.
Astronomers have created the most sensitive radio image ever of an ancient star cluster – and discovered a radio signal at the centre of it.
The image, which can be seen above, is of the second brightest globular cluster in the night sky, known as 47 Tucanae.
Radio waves from celestial objects - such as planets and stars - travel through space as light does, and radio telescopes can intercept them.
Astronomers can then convert these signals into radio images.
The 47 Tucanae cluster was first catalogued in the 1700s and can be seen with the naked eye.
Two possible causes for mysterious radio signal
Seeing it in detail has allowed astronomers to discover the previously undetected faint signal coming from its centre.
There are two possible reasons for the signal, lead author Dr Alessandro Paduano has said.
The first is that the cluster contains a black hole, which would be "be a highly significant discovery" and the second is that there is a pulsar - a rotating neutron star that emits radio waves.
"A pulsar this close to a cluster centre is also a scientifically interesting discovery, as it could be used to search for a central black hole that is yet to be detected," Dr Paduano said.
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