NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has made a groundbreaking discovery, pinpointing the origin of a roaming magnetar in our galaxy. The magnetar, named SGR 0501+4516, is currently being tracked by researchers using advanced imaging techniques.
According to Ashley Chrimes, lead author of the study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, magnetars are neutron stars born from dead star remnants and possess incredibly powerful magnetic fields. One such magnetar, SGR 0501+4516, has been found moving through our galaxy without any apparent connection to a nearby supernova explosion.
Using precise benchmarks from ESA’s Gaia spacecraft, researchers have measured the subtle motion of the magnetar as it traverses the sky. This data suggests that SGR 0501+4516 may not be born in a supernova, casting doubt on previous theories about its origin.
The research team proposes alternative scenarios for the formation of such magnetars, including accretion-induced collapse and binary star systems containing white dwarfs. The study’s findings offer new insights into the mysterious fast radio bursts, which could be linked to magnetar birth rates.
The discovery highlights the importance of continued monitoring of SGR 0501+4516 using Hubble observations, which will help researchers understand how these extreme magnetic objects form and evolve.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-04-hubble-tracks-roaming-magnetar-unknown.html