Astronomers have discovered an enigmatic space object called Punctum in the nearby galaxy NGC 4945, which has left them baffled and sparked intense curiosity. The team of scientists led by Elena Shablovinskaia found Punctum using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile.
Punctum is a compact object emitting intense amounts of energy, making it 10,000 to 100,000 times brighter than typical magnetars or around 100 times brighter than microquasars. Its unique properties have led the team to conclude that it doesn’t fit into any known astrophysical category.
Located about 11 million light-years away from our galaxy, Punctum can only be detected in millimeter radio wavelengths, with only a few objects surpassing its brightness among star-related sources. The object’s brightness remained constant over several observations, ruling out the possibility of it being a transient phenomenon.
The strong polarization of Punctum’s millimeter light suggests that it possesses a highly structured magnetic field, which is likely responsible for its emission. However, this doesn’t fit with current understanding of magnetars or other known objects.
To further understand Punctum, astronomers plan to conduct more observations using ALMA and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The JWST’s advanced resolution and spectral range may help identify what type of object Punctum is.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/scientists-may-have-found-a-powerful-new-space-object-it-doesnt-fit-comfortably-into-any-known-category