Astronomers Identify New Source of Repeating Radio Bursts, Offering Insight into Long-Period Transients
Astronomers have identified a new source of repeating radio bursts, known as ASKAP J1745, which is believed to originate from a pair of stars spiraling around each other. This discovery, published in Nature Astronomy, marks a significant advancement in understanding long-period transients, which are mysterious bursts of radio signals that repeat slowly. ASKAP J1745 is unique because it has been detected with multiple types of telescopes, capturing both radio and X-ray bursts with each orbit. This finding is likened to the Rosetta stone, as it provides crucial information that could help decode the origins of other long-period transients. The discovery was made using the ASKAP radio telescope, operated by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency. The system is identified as a 'cataclysmic variable,' where a white dwarf star accretes material from a companion star, leading to the observed bursts. 
