Latest news with #AustralianSquareKilometreArrayPathfinder
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Astronomers solve mystery of strange bright burst in space
Around midday on June 13 last year, my colleagues and I were scanning the skies when we thought we had discovered a strange and exciting new object in space. Using a huge radio telescope, we spotted a blindingly fast flash of radio waves that appeared to be coming from somewhere inside our galaxy. After a year of research and analysis, we have finally pinned down the source of the signal – and it was even closer to home than we had ever expected. Our instrument was located at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara – also known as the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory – in remote Western Australia, where the sky above the red desert plains is vast and sublime. We were using a new detector at the radio telescope known as the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder – or ASKAP – to search for rare flickering signals from distant galaxies called fast radio bursts. We detected a burst. Surprisingly, it showed no evidence of a time delay between high and low frequencies – a phenomenon known as 'dispersion'. This meant it must have originated within a few hundred light years of Earth. In other words, it must have come from inside our galaxy – unlike other fast radio bursts which have come from billions of light years away. Fast radio bursts are the brightest radio flashes in the Universe, emitting 30 years' worth of the Sun's energy in less than a millisecond – and we only have hints of how they are produced. Some theories suggest they are produced by 'magnetars' – the highly magnetised cores of massive, dead stars – or arise from cosmic collisions between these dead stellar remnants. Regardless of how they occur, fast radio bursts are also a precise instrument for mapping out the so-called 'missing matter' in our Universe. When we went back over our recordings to take a closer look at the radio burst, we had a surprise: the signal seemed to have disappeared. Two months of trial and error went by until the problem was found. ASKAP is composed of 36 antennas, which can be combined to act like one gigantic zoom lens six kilometres across. Just like a zoom lens on a camera, if you try to take a picture of something too close, it comes out blurry. Only by removing some of the antennas from the analysis – artificially reducing the size of our 'lens' – did we finally make an image of the burst. We weren't excited by this – in fact, we were disappointed. No astronomical signal could be close enough to cause this blurring. This meant it was probably just radio-frequency 'interference' – an astronomer's term for human-made signals that corrupt our data. It's the kind of junk data we'd normally throw away. Yet the burst had us intrigued. For one thing, this burst was fast. The fastest known fast radio burst lasted about 10 millionths of a second. This burst consisted of an extremely bright pulse lasting a few billionths of a second, and two dimmer after-pulses, for a total duration of 30 nanoseconds. So, where did this amazingly short, bright burst come from? We already knew the direction it came from, and we were able to use the blurriness in the image to estimate a distance of 4,500 km. And there was only one thing in that direction, at that distance, at that time – a derelict 60-year-old satellite called Relay 2. Relay 2 was one of the first ever telecommunications satellites. Launched by the United States in 1964, it was operated until 1965, and its onboard systems had failed by 1967. But how could Relay 2 have produced this burst? Some satellites, presumed dead, have been observed to reawaken. They are known as 'zombie satellites'. But this was no zombie. No system on board Relay 2 had ever been able to produce a nanosecond burst of radio waves, even when it was alive. We think the most likely cause was an 'electrostatic discharge'. As satellites are exposed to electrically charged gases in space known as plasmas, they can become charged – just like when your feet rub on carpet. And that accumulated charge can suddenly discharge, with the resulting spark causing a flash of radio waves. Electrostatic discharges are common and are known to cause damage to spacecraft. Yet all known electrostatic discharges last thousands of times longer than our signal, and occur most commonly when the Earth's magnetosphere is highly active. And our magnetosphere was unusually quiet at the time of the signal. Another possibility is a strike by a micrometeoroid – a tiny piece of space debris – similar to that experienced by the James Webb Space Telescope in June 2022. According to our calculations, a 22 micro-gram micrometeoroid travelling at 20km per second or more and hitting Relay 2 would have been able to produce such a strong flash of radio waves. But we estimate the chance that the nanosecond burst we detected was caused by such an event to be about 1 per cent. Ultimately, we can't be certain why we saw this signal from Relay 2. What we do know, however, is how to see more of them. When looking at 13.8 millisecond timescales – the equivalent of keeping the camera shutter open for longer – this signal was washed out, and barely detectable even to a powerful radio telescope such as ASKAP. But if we had searched at 13.8 nanoseconds, any old radio antenna would have easily seen it. It shows us that monitoring satellites for electrostatic discharges with ground-based radio antennas is possible. And with the number of satellites in orbit growing rapidly, finding new ways to monitor them is more important than ever. But did our team eventually find new astronomical signals? You bet we did. And there are no doubt plenty more to be found. Clancy William James is a Senior Lecturer (astronomy and astroparticle physics) at Curtin University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Who sent mysterious radio burst in 2024? Study reveals the presence of a ‘zombie' NASA Satellite. Here's truth
In June 2024, astronomers detected a powerful burst of radio waves from within the Milky Way. After investigation, scientists now believe the signal came from a deactivated or zombie NASA satellite launched in the 1960s. This discovery could help researchers better understand unusual signals in space and the behavior of old satellites. Signal Detected from Within Our Galaxy A burst of radio waves was picked up by astronomers in June 2024. It was detected by the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) in Western Australia. ASKAP has 36 identical dish antennas. This array searches for short but strong radio signals in space. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0.00% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Usually, radio bursts come from distant galaxies. These signals often release energy equal to what the sun produces in three days. But this signal came from much closer. It started inside the Milky Way galaxy, very near to Earth. ASKAP could not focus on it clearly, similar to a phone camera failing to focus on a nearby object. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 9 years ago - Most beautiful twins. Their appearance today will shock you Novelodge Undo Also Read: Roofman: Is Channing Tatum starrer crime drama based on a true story? Here's trailer, release date, plot and cast NASA Satellite Named as Likely Source A team of scientists investigated the source. They ruled out new space objects. The only possible match was an old NASA satellite called Relay 2. This satellite was launched in 1964. It stopped working in 1967 after its two transmitters failed, a New Scientist report said citing a new preprint study. Live Events Despite being inactive for many years, Relay 2 may have created the radio pulse detected in 2024. The researchers shared their findings in a study on arXiv on June 13. The study is not yet peer-reviewed. Unusual Nature of the Signal The signal lasted only 30 nanoseconds. It was very strong but very brief. The pattern of the pulse did not match any known function of Relay 2. This ruled out the chance that it was a planned transmission. Researchers looked into other possible causes. They believe it may have happened because of a micrometeorite impact or an electrostatic discharge. Both events can create powerful radio signals in space. Also Read: Marge Simpson Death Rumours: Does Marge Simpson die in The Simpsons Season 36 finale? Here's the truth Possible Reason Micrometeorites are tiny space rocks. When they hit a spacecraft, they can cause changes in the spacecraft's surface. These changes may increase electrical activity and release radio waves. Scientists have noted that micrometeorite impacts can directly create such signals. According to the researchers, if a micrometeorite hit Relay 2, it might have created plasma. This would allow electric charges to build up and discharge quickly. That could explain the strong radio pulse. Electrostatic Discharge More Likely Scientists say that electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a more likely cause. ESD happens when electric charges between two surfaces suddenly flow. Spacecraft surfaces can carry different charges due to space conditions. Relay 2 was built many years ago. Its materials might hold electric charges more easily than modern satellites. When the charge becomes too strong, it can discharge and produce radio waves. According to the study, ESD has long been known to create radio pulses. The research team believes Relay 2's old design may have made it more likely to generate a strong pulse in space. FAQs What is electrostatic discharge and how can it affect satellites? Electrostatic discharge is the sudden flow of electricity between charged surfaces. In satellites, it can create short radio bursts or damage electronic parts. Why is this radio signal from Relay 2 important to scientists? The signal helps scientists understand how old satellites might still produce activity. It may also offer a way to detect discharges from space debris or inactive satellites.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Science
- Newsweek
Mysterious Space Signal Traced to Long-Dead NASA Satellite
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A brief but extremely powerful radio signal thought to have coming from deep space has now been traced to a dead NASA satellite in Earth orbit. Relay 2 was one of a pair of experimental communications satellites, the first launched in 1962 and the second in 1964. The signal from the decommissioned satellite was picked up in June last year—and it lasted less than 30 nanoseconds. Despite the fleeting nature of the burst, the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope. managed to trace it back to its origin. Radio signals from space are not an uncommon occurrence; in fact, telescopes pick up signals all the time coming from pulsars, black holes, massive galaxies, stars and various other cosmic phenomena. But far from being from a distant cosmic source, researchers determined that the fast radio burst (FRB) actually came from the 60's satellite in Earth orbit. Relay 2 satellite pictured by NASA. Relay 2 satellite pictured by NASA. NASA Relay 2 operated for just over a year and a half, at which point the only facility equipped to communicate with it—the Mojave Desert Ground Station—was retasked to a different satellite program. The transponders onboard Relay 2 stopped responding to radio signals in June 1967, after which point the satellite went silent—until last June. According to the researchers, Relay 2 did not miraculously come back online to send a signal to Earth. Instead, they believe that either an electrostatic discharge (ESD) or a plasma discharge following a micrometeoroid impact could have set off the burst. "Our observation opens new possibilities for the remote sensing of ESD, which poses a serious threat to spacecraft, and reveals a new source of false events for observations of astrophysical transients", the researchers say. With limited fuel capacity and subject to wear and tear caused by outer space, satellites don't last forever. But what happens to them after they stop working? The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, says that satellites orbiting closer to Earth are typically de‑orbited to burn up in Earth's atmosphere within 25 years, as per the "25‑year rule." However, this is only allowed when operators can show that the probability of injury or property damage is less than 1 in 10,000. When this is not the case, a controlled de-orbit directs the satellite into a remote ocean area, known as the "Spacecraft Cemetery". Satellites that lack sufficient fuel for re‑entry are sent into a graveyard orbit, where their instruments and subsystems are shut down, the remaining fuel is depleted and they are left to orbit indefinitely. Do you have a science story to share with Newsweek? Do you have a question about space? Let us know via science@ James, C. W., Deller, A. T., Dial, T., Glowacki, M., Tingay, S. J., Bannister, K. W., Bera, A., Bhat, N. D. R., Ekers, R. D., Gupta, V., Jaini, A., Morgan, J., Jahns-Schindler, J. N., Shannon, R. M., Sukhov, M., Tuthill, J., & Wang, Z. (2025). A nanosecond-duration radio pulse originating from the defunct Relay 2 satellite.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Astronomers detect pulse from satellite that has been dead for decades
PERTH, Australia - Astronomers in Australia believe they have detected a rare radio emission from a satellite that hasn't been heard from in decades. According to the team operating the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, a brief burst of energy from NASA's Relay-2 satellite was detected on June 13, 2024, lasting just 30 nanoseconds — an incredibly short duration. NASA originally launched the communication satellite from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in January 1964. Relay-2 was intended to support communications and assist with mapping radiation belts around Earth, but the satellite began losing transponders in 1966 and suffered a full communications failure on June 9, 1967. So, what caused this sudden signal to reach Earth nearly 60 years later? Scientists have offered a few possibilities. "We consider an electrostatic discharge (ESD) or plasma discharge following a micrometeoroid impact to be plausible explanations for the burst," researchers wrote in a recently released study. See The Objects Humans Left Behind On The Moon The mysterious occurrence is not the first time a defunct satellite has emitted a surprising signal. In 2012, amateur radio operators picked up a pulse from the United States Air Force's Lincoln Experimental Satellite, known as LES-1. That satellite became inactive in 1967, but experts believe its mode of failure, combined with its orbit, allowed it to intermittently transmit signals when its solar-powered batteries were properly aligned with the Sun. Similar events occurred in 2002 and 2010, but occurrences of satellites suddenly showing signs of life are relatively rare. Satellites that unexpectedly come back to life after being declared inoperative are often dubbed "zombie satellites." The Natural History Museum in London estimates that around 2,000 active satellites are currently orbiting Earth, along with more than 3,000 defunct ones. Depending on their design and purpose, satellites typically function for 10 to 15 years but can persist in orbit for much longer. See Renderings Of Space Station To Be Built Around The Moon Unlike previous incidents that were linked to residual battery activity, Australian researchers believe the Relay-2 signal was likely triggered by a sudden electrostatic charge or a small meteoroid strike, both of which can cause unexpected discharges of energy. Researchers say the frequency burst could pave the way for detecting other sudden electrical discharges, with monitoring systems that are already readily available on article source: Astronomers detect pulse from satellite that has been dead for decades
News18
09-06-2025
- Science
- News18
A Strange Signal Is Coming From Space Every 44 Minutes, Scientists Are Baffled
Last Updated: According to Professor Nanda Rea of Spain's Institute of Space Sciences, the discovery hints at the presence of many more such unknown objects hiding across the cosmos A strange celestial object, unlike anything ever observed before, has been discovered by astronomers in Australia. The detection of ASKAP J1832-0911, an object that emits radio and X-ray signals every 44 minutes, is being hailed as a breakthrough that could reshape how scientists understand the universe. The object sends out powerful pulses that last for about two minutes each. These signals were picked up simultaneously by two major observatories: Australia's ASKAP (Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder) radio telescope and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The rare synchronicity of this observation has made the discovery all the more remarkable. Dr Andy Wang from Curtin University, who was part of the research team, described the find as 'like discovering a needle in a haystack". This object doesn't behave like anything we've ever seen before, he added. ASKAP J1832-0911 appears to belong to a relatively new class of celestial phenomena known as Long-Period Transients, or LPTs. These objects were first identified in 2022 and are known for emitting signals over unusually long intervals. However, this is the first time that any LPT has been observed sending out X-rays along with radio waves. What could it be? Scientists are still unsure. One theory suggests that the object could be a magnetar, a remnant core of a collapsed star with an extremely strong magnetic field. Another hypothesis proposes it may be part of a binary star system involving a highly magnetic white dwarf. But even these explanations do not fully account for its unusual behaviour. According to Professor Nanda Rea of Spain's Institute of Space Sciences, the discovery hints at the presence of many more such unknown objects hiding across the cosmos. 'This is just the beginning," she said, adding that the fact that they caught the signal in both radio and X-ray frequencies at the same time shows that they were on the verge of something bigger. The dual-frequency nature of the signals could help astronomers develop new tools and methods for identifying similar phenomena, potentially uncovering more hidden secrets of the universe. For now, ASKAP J1832-0911 remains an enigma, but one that may open new windows into the unknown chapters of space. First Published: June 09, 2025, 17:06 IST
