Researchers have at long last managed to measure the direct distance of a magnetar in the Milky Wayfrom Earth . Magnetars are neutron stars where the collapsed marrow has gone supernova with incredibly strong magnetic fields , hence the name .
As report in theMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society , the team used the parallax method to measure the distance . The team took measurements from January to November of 2019 , then again during March and April of 2020 . This allowed them to measure its place in the sky when the Earth was at opposite position in its orbit to detect the shift in the magnetar ’s apparent place relative to other object in the background signal . Thanks to uncomplicated geometry , the squad was capable to estimate that magnetar XTE J1810 - 197 is locate 8,100 light - years from Earth .
“ This is the first parallax measurement for a magnetar , and establish that it is among the snug magnetars known — at about 8,100 light - year — cause it a premier target for next subject field , ” lead author Hao Ding , a graduate student at the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia , tell in astatement .
The team used the Very Long Baseline Array ( VLBA ) , a web of radio telescopes extending in longitude from the Virgin Islands to Hawaii , with several sites across the contiguous United States . The team desire to use the VLBA to limit the aloofness of more of these rum object , which might provide insight into the still - secret riotous wireless bursts ( FRBs ) .
FRBs are incredibly scant , powerful emissions of radio waves . A few extragalactic FRBs have been followed back to their galax of origin and researchers trust that magnetars might be involved in those expelling . Just a few calendar month ago , researchers report the first FRB from within our own galaxy .
“ Having a accurate space to this magnetar means that we can accurately forecast the strength of the wireless pulses come from it . If it emits something standardized to an FRB , we will know how strong that pulse is , ” explain Adam Deller , also of Swinburne University . “ FRBs vary in their strong suit , so we would wish to know if a magnetar beat comes secretive or overlaps with the strength of acknowledge FRBs . "
XTE J1810 - 197 is a rarefied magnetar known to breathe radio pulses . It was detected doing so from its find in 2003 through 2008 . Then cryptically , it stopped for a ten . It begin breathe shiny radio pulse again in December 2018 .
“ We know that pulsars , such as the one in the notable Crab Nebula , emit ‘ gargantuan pulse , ’ much inviolable than their common 1 . Determining the distance to magnetars will help oneself us empathize this phenomenon , and learn if maybe FRBs are the most uttermost example of giant heart rate , ” Ding explain .
