Astronomers have discovered a new magnetic star, or magnetar, in the M82 galaxy, approximately 12 million light-years from Earth. This star, which is once again visible after a bright explosion, is characterized by its strong magnetic field. According to a report published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, the star was captured by the European Space Agency’s telescope after it emitted a powerful burst of energy.
Such stellar objects are known for their immense magnetic fields and are rapidly moving remnants of stars that have completed their life cycle. The brightness of these explosions is thousands of times greater than that of our Sun. In the past 50 years, only three such flares have been recorded.
Ashley Chrimes, an ESA researcher, emphasized the importance of discovering more such events to gain insights into their frequency and the energy loss mechanisms involved. Lead author of the study Sandro Mereghetti described the discovery as a ‘special alert’ due to its unusual proximity within a nearby galaxy.
The astronomers attributed the starquake to the intense magnetic fields of the magnetar, which disrupted the star’s outer layers and fractured its surface. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the behavior of magnetic stars and the evolution of stars in the universe.
