Latest news with #radioastronomy
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA satellite emits 'spark' decades after going dormant: Astronomers think they know why
A NASA satellite that had been dead for nearly six decades issued a surprising sign of life. In June 2024, a team of astronomers were perplexed when a radio telescope in Australia scanning the sky over the southern hemisphere came across unusual radio waves. The burst of radiation was very bright, exceedingly quick – and much closer to Earth than the scientists would have thought. After studying the source of the strange cosmic phenomena, the researchers were even more mystified when it appeared to be originating from the same location as a NASA spacecraft that went offline about 58 years ago, according to a press release about the discovery released June 25, 2025. Don't be fooled, though: The defunct spacecraft that operated for about three years in the 1960s isn't kicking back on to resume operations anytime soon. So, what's going on? Here's what to know about the strange signal, and how astronomers tracked it to a defunct NASA satellite. Astronomers tracked the source of the radio waves to a location that matches that of NASA's defunct Relay 2 spacecraft, a communications satellite that launched into orbit in 1964 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft operated until June 1967 after both of its onboard transponders failed. So, has the long-dead satellite has suddenly sprung back to life after nearly six decades? Astronomers say that's unlikely. Rather, the waves more likely came from a "spark" of built up electricity, which emitted a pulse as it jumped from one part of the spacecraft to another while passing through charged environment above Earth's atmosphere, according to the researchers. The team of astronomers discovered the strange signal while hunting for bright, powerful flashes of electromagnetic radiation in the distant universe known as fast radio bursts. Most surprising to the researchers, all of whom are from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, was that the signal spotted June 13, 2024, didn't originate from a far-flung galaxy. Instead, it originated in our own cosmic neighborhood in the Milky Way. While incredibly bright, the event only lasted less than 30 nanoseconds. The astronomers detected it using Australia's national science agency's (CSIRO) ASKAP radio telescope. Clancy James, an astrophysicist at Curtin University in Australia's Perth campus, then led a team that studied the extremely bright source of radio waves to determine its source. While the satellite signal is one possible explanation, the researchers have also theorized that an impact with a tiny particle of space debris, known as a "micrometeoroid," could have caused the anomaly. Such impacts can create short-lived clouds of hot, charged gas that produce bursts of radio waves. The discovery marks the first time that a spark of built-up electricity has been observed to be both so bright and so short in duration. Now that the detection has been made, the finding not only demonstrates how astronomers can help identify the origin of these kinds of signals in the future, but could even help humanity better understand how electrostatic discharges can pose a danger to satellites in Earth's orbit. "Detections like this show how the tools developed to study the distant Universe can help scientists understand the increasingly crowded and critically important space environment close to Earth," the researcher said in a statement. The research has been accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters. A pre-print version of the paper is available on arXiv. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dead NASA satellite from Florida emits 'spark' 6 decades later: Why?
BBC News
2 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Jodrell Bank: 'Towering figure' in radio astronomy dies at 102
Tributes have been paid to a "towering figure in British astronomy" who has died aged 102. Sir Francis Graham-Smith was believed to be the world's oldest active radio astronomer, according to Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire. Known to his friends as Graham, he served as the observatory's second director and was the Astronomer Royal - a title bestowed upon the UK's most eminent astronomer - between 1982 and 1990. In a tribute shared on social media, Jodrell Bank said Sir Francis had an article published only a few months ago in the Royal Astronomical Society's magazine, Astronomy & Geophysics. Andrew Lyne, emeritus professor of radio astronomy at The University of Manchester, said: "Sir Francis was a towering figure in British astronomy, whose career spanned much of the history of radio astronomy itself, and as a teacher and mentor he enhanced the lives of many scientists, myself included."Sir Francis was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society and was a former President of the Royal Astronomical Society before being knighted in 1986. He made "foundational contributions to the understanding of the interstellar medium, pulsars, and the development of radio telescopes", Jodrell Bank said. The University of Manchester said Sir Francis interrupted his university studies in Cambridge during World War Two to work on the development of radar. At the end of the war, he returned to Cambridge and began working alongside Martin Ryle, another wartime radar expert. Sir Francis played a key role in pioneering the new science of radio astronomy, providing some of the most accurate positions for the newly discovered sources of cosmic radio waves using devices called 1964, he was appointed as a professor of radio astronomy at the University of Manchester and moved to Jodrell Bank. 'Immeasurable contribution' In 1982 he succeeded Sir Bernard Lovell, who founded Jodrell Bank, as its observatory said Sir Francis's leadership had ensured its "continued international scientific excellence". "His contribution to the field was immeasurable," it added. Sir Francis technically retired in 1988 but continued to be an "active member" of Jodrell Bank's pulsar research group until very recently. The University of Manchester said Sir Francis and Elizabeth, his wife of 76 years who died in 2021, had four from astronomy, he was a keen gardener and an "avid" bee-keeper, a hobby which he enjoyed well into his 90s. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
SKA Radio Array To Spot Habitable Exoearths Via Their Magnetic Auroras
Two people admiring the green light of Aurora Borealis standing on the wild Skagsanden beach, ... More Lofoten Islands, Norway Radio astronomy has long been unsung and underappreciated, largely because it's never been able to cough up the kind of jaw-dropping visual images that are routine with large optical telescopes. But that could all change when the 1-billion-euro Square Kilometre Array Observatory comes online in Western Australia and South Africa in 2027. The SKAO was primarily funded to unravel the mysteries of dark energy, the evolution of galaxies through cosmic time and to further constrain Einstein's theory of relativity. But at least one Netherlands-based radio astronomer is using that country's know-how in the low-frequency radio spectrum to look for emissions from far flung earthlike extrasolar planets. We really need all the sensitivity SKA-Low can get us as this will be a very faint signal of around a 100 MHz, Joe Callingham, Head of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Science Group at ASTRON, The Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, tells me in his office at the University of Amsterdam. That's basically the same frequency as the FM dial on your car radio. If you ever go hunting for auroras in Norway or Antarctica, you want the Sun to be pumping out radiation, preferably a coronal mass ejection that hits our atmosphere and causes those big, beautiful lights, Callingham tells me. But if you could turn your eyes into radio receivers, they'd also be incredibly bright in the low frequency spectrum, he says. Like a shield, Earth's geomagnetic field protects us from solar activity, so we really think having a geomagnetic field is super important for habitability, says Callingham. And without a geomagnetic field, even if astronomers find an earthlike planet in the habitable zone of a nearby red dwarf star, these M-type red dwarfs pump coronal mass ejections daily. So, most likely, you've got a barren rock sitting in a Goldilocks habitable zone, says Callingham. Because without a magnetic field a planet will lose its atmosphere, and its oceans will be boiled away, he says. So, we really think the magnetic field is vital piece of this puzzle, and radio is the only real way to detect and measure that, says Callingham. Remote Desert Location From a remote site in Western Australia, SKA-Low's antennas are divided into 512 stations, with 256 antennas per station, notes SKAO. From a central compact core measuring 1km across, with a maximum distance of 74 km between the two furthest stations, they note. How does it work? SKA-Low is a "mathematical" telescope that works by filtering out what is not desired from the observable sky, says the SKAO. Its antennas see the whole sky, and through data processing astronomers can "point" in different directions even though the antennas have no moving parts, SKAO notes. As for what the SKAO will bring to the data processing table? The big thing that's changed is professionalization of the software; we've hired software engineers to really help us because it's very computationally expensive radio astronomy, says Callingham. But Callingham and colleagues already have lots of experience in the low frequency regime since The Netherlands has built and has been operating their LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) since 2010. A Great Legacy Radio astronomy in The Netherlands has a very long tradition dating back to World War II and we've capitalized on that expertise, says Callingham. Without the algorithms we've developed here and the engineering skills we've built over time in The Netherlands, the SKA wouldn't be possible, he says. A Planet Hunter This radio method will also be a new way to discover exoplanets, says Callingham. M-type red dwarfs are the best spectral type to survey for these auroras since they host largest number of nearby planets (and have strong magnetic fields), he says. The Bottom Line? The SKA is going to revolutionize our understanding of the universe, largely because it's going to have a sensitivity and the resolution that's unparalleled by any other radio telescope that has ever been built, says Callingham. And I think it will find the first auroras on other planets outside of our solar system, he says.
Sustainability Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'It's a Crazy, Unexplainable Signal From Space': Repeating Radio Burst Every 2 Hours Baffles Scientists and Reveals New Star System
IN A NUTSHELL 🔭 Detected by the LOFAR radio telescope, mysterious radio signals from Ursa Major repeat every two hours, defying traditional explanations. 🌌 The source is a binary system named ILT J1101, consisting of a white dwarf and a red dwarf in a tight orbit with intense magnetic interactions. and a in a tight orbit with intense magnetic interactions. 💡 This finding challenges existing models, revealing that not only neutron stars but also white dwarfs can emit long-duration radio pulses. can emit long-duration radio pulses. 🔍 The discovery opens new avenues for understanding fast radio bursts and the dynamics of binary star systems. The universe is a vast and mysterious expanse, full of phenomena that continue to intrigue scientists and astronomers. Among these phenomena is a series of radio signals that have been puzzling experts for over a decade. Originating from the constellation of Ursa Major, these signals repeat every two hours, challenging previously held astronomical theories. Detected by the LOFAR radio telescope, these signals differ from the known fast radio bursts (FRBs), as they last several seconds and occur with remarkable regularity. This article delves into the source of these enigmatic emissions and their implications for our understanding of the cosmos. A Binary System with Intense Magnetic Interactions At the heart of this cosmic puzzle is a binary system known as ILT J1101, consisting of a white dwarf and a red dwarf in a tight orbit around each other. Their complete revolution takes just 125.5 minutes, during which their magnetic fields collide, producing radio impulses detectable from Earth. Optical observations have confirmed the presence of these two stars, with the motion variations of the red dwarf measured through spectroscopy revealing the gravitational influence of the otherwise invisible white dwarf companion. This discovery marks a significant breakthrough, as it was previously thought that only neutron stars could emit long-duration radio pulses. The ILT J1101 binary system demonstrates that other compact objects, like white dwarfs, can also generate similar signals. This finding not only expands our understanding of binary star systems but also challenges existing models of stellar magnetic interactions. 'Earth Is Not Unique Anymore': Harvard Scientists Reveal Countless Earth-Like Planets Lurking in Distant Galaxies A Cosmic Mystery with Major Implications The regular radio pulses from ILT J1101 raise numerous questions about their origin. Are these emissions solely from the magnetic field of the white dwarf, or do they result from the interaction between the two stars? Researchers are actively investigating these hypotheses while searching for similar systems that could shed light on this phenomenon. This discovery could provide insights into the origins of some FRBs, those rapid radio bursts that remain poorly understood. It illustrates that binary systems with dead stars can generate powerful and regular radio emissions. Astronomers are eager to find other examples, hoping these will help unravel the complexities of such cosmic occurrences. Future research involves studying the system's ultraviolet emissions, which could reveal the temperature and history of the white dwarf, offering invaluable clues to solve this cosmic mystery. 'James Webb Spots Cosmic Shock': This Newly Found Ancient Structure Challenges Everything We Knew About the Early Universe Potential Insights into Fast Radio Bursts The nature of fast radio bursts has long eluded scientists, but the findings from ILT J1101 could offer new perspectives. By understanding how binary systems like ILT J1101 produce radio waves, scientists can explore whether similar mechanisms might be at play in other parts of the universe. The fact that a white dwarf-red dwarf system can produce such signals opens the door to reevaluating the sources of FRBs. With the potential to revolutionize our knowledge of radio astronomy, these findings suggest that several other compact binary systems might be waiting to be discovered. This prospect excites astronomers, as each system could provide unique data on magnetic field interactions and stellar evolution, ultimately contributing to a broader understanding of our universe's dynamics. 'Super-Earths Are Everywhere': New Study Reveals These Giant Alien Worlds Are Far More Common Than Scientists Ever Imagined The Role of Advanced Telescopes in Modern Astronomy The detection of the signals from ILT J1101 underscores the importance of advanced telescopes like LOFAR in modern astronomical research. These instruments allow scientists to observe the universe with unprecedented precision, capturing phenomena that were previously invisible. The capabilities of such telescopes are crucial for identifying and analyzing rare cosmic events, leading to groundbreaking discoveries. As technology continues to advance, telescopes will become even more powerful, enabling astronomers to delve deeper into the mysteries of the cosmos. This progress will not only enhance our understanding of known phenomena but also uncover new ones, pushing the boundaries of what we know about the universe. What other secrets might these powerful tools reveal in the coming years? The recent discoveries from ILT J1101 remind us of the vastness and complexity of our universe. They challenge existing theories and open new avenues for exploration in the field of radio astronomy. As we continue to unravel these cosmic mysteries, what other extraordinary phenomena might we encounter, and how will they reshape our understanding of the universe? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (28)
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Science
- The Sun
‘Mystery pulse' spotted 25 miles ABOVE Antarctica is ‘unknown to science' as baffled experts say they ‘don't understand'
STRANGE radio pulses detected roughly 25 miles (40km) above Antarctica could be the mark of a new cosmic particle, according to a new study. This rare signal was first detected by the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA) in 2006, a series of tools floating over icy continent carried by balloons. 3 The now-retired ANITA experiment aimed to detect ultra-high-energy (UHE) cosmic neutrinos - or "ghost particles" - and other cosmic rays as they rain down on Earth from space. While ANITA usually picks up cosmic signals that bounce off the ice, this new radio pulse came from beneath the horizon and under the ice sheet. Its orientation cannot currently be explained by particle physics, a study in the journal Physical Review Letters wrote. A similar event was recorded in 2014, and it has continued to baffle scientists. The mysterious radio waves were being emitted at a steep angle below the ice, suggesting they had to pass through thousands of miles of rock before reaching ANITA. All those obstacles would typically leave a radio pulse too faint to be detectable - but not this signal. "It's an interesting problem, because we still don't actually have an explanation for what those anomalies are," ANITA team member and Penn State University researcher Stephanie Wissel said in a statement. "What we do know is that they're most likely not representing neutrinos." Scientists have ruled out neutrinos, the most common particle in the universe. Neutrinos are unofficially known as "ghost particles" due to the fact that they don't have any mass or carry any charge. "You have a billion neutrinos passing through your thumbnail at any moment, but neutrinos don't really interact," added Wissel. "So, this is the double-edged sword problem. If we detect them, it means they have traveled all this way without interacting with anything else. "We could be detecting a neutrino coming from the edge of the observable Universe." Scientists suspected that a supernova erupting in space could have coughed a slew of neutrinos in Earth's direction. An international team of researchers attempting to solve the mystery conducted a series of simulations to see if the 2006 and 2014 events align with any significant cosmic events, with data from the the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina. There was a supernova that aligned with the signals captured in 2014, but not the 2006 event. So there is no clear indication that this cosmic event is what caused the bizarre radio waves. What scientists have done, however, is narrow down their set of explanations. "My guess is that some interesting radio propagation effect occurs near ice and also near the horizon that I don't fully understand, but we certainly explored several of those, and we haven't been able to find any of those yet either," said Wissel. "So, right now, it's one of these long-standing mysteries, and I'm excited that when we fly [Payload for Ultrahigh Energy Observations], we'll have better sensitivity. "In principle, we should pick up more anomalies, and maybe we'll actually understand what they are. "We also might detect neutrinos, which would in some ways be a lot more exciting." 3
