Weatherhead Reports 20.6-mJy Radio Measurements for ASKAP J173608.2-321635
Updated
Updated · spacedaily.com · Jun 28
Weatherhead Reports 20.6-mJy Radio Measurements for ASKAP J173608.2-321635
1 articles · Updated · spacedaily.com · Jun 28
Summary
Weatherhead and colleagues added new radio constraints on ASKAP J173608.2-321635, detecting the transient on April 11, 2020 at 20.6 millijanskys at 1.23 gigahertz and also in VLITE data at 339 megahertz.
Those measurements suggest a spectral break below 1 gigahertz and a wider rotation-measure range than previously reported, sharpening evidence that the source sits in a strongly magnetized, changing environment.
The team said the data could fit a highly supersonic neutron star interacting with that environment, but stopped short of identifying the object or claiming a new class.
Earlier observations had found six ASKAP detections in 2020 and a one-day MeerKAT flare in February 2021, while X-ray and near-infrared follow-up found no counterpart—constraints that still rule out easy matches such as pulsars, magnetars or flaring stars.
Why does a mysterious radio source at our galaxy's heart remain an enigma, even after a similar case was just solved?
Are these newly found 'ghost' objects a new type of star, or a known object behaving in a completely unprecedented way?
What exotic object near the galactic center emits powerful radio waves but is invisible in all other forms of light?
The Enigma of ASKAP J173608.2-321635: A New Class of Highly Polarized, Steep-Spectrum Radio Transient Near the Galactic Center
Overview
ASKAP J173608.2-321635 is a mysterious radio source near the Galactic Center that continues to puzzle astronomers as of mid-2026. First discovered in 2020, it stands out for its unique and extreme properties, including a steep spectral index and dramatic variability. The source was detected with a strong radio signal and unusual polarization, but shows no counterparts in X-ray or infrared, making it hard to classify. These features suggest complex physical processes and a turbulent plasma environment. Ongoing research and future observations, especially with the Square Kilometer Array, are expected to shed more light on this enigmatic object.