In a groundbreaking discovery, an international team of astronomers led by the University of Sydney has uncovered an unusual radio signal emitting neutron star that rotates extremely slowly, completing one rotation every 76 seconds. This newfound neutron star, named PSR J0901-4046, is unlike anything seen before and is believed to belong to the theorized class of ultra-long period magnetars, stars with extremely strong magnetic fields.
Neutron Star in the “Graveyard”
The discovery of PSR J0901-4046 is particularly intriguing because it resides in the “neutron star graveyard,” a region where no pulsations are expected. This discovery was made using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa, and the findings are published in Nature Astronomy.