About this episode

Astronomers investigate a mysterious shock wave around the dead star RXJ0528+2838, revealing potential hidden energy sources.

Astronomers are surprised by a mysterious shock wave around the dead star RXJ0528+2838, studied with ESO’s Very Large Telescope. The dead star moves through space creating a so-called bow shock, as the surrounding material is pushed away. Structures like this one are typically caused by a strong outflow from the star. However, in the case of RXJ0528+2838, no known mechanism could be causing the outflow. A hidden energy source, perhaps magnetic fields, might be the answer to this mystery.

Topics covered

• astronomy
• shock wave
• dead star
• bow shock
• mystery
• energy source

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: European Southern Observatory, ESO

Products: Very Large Telescope

Places: RXJ0528+2838

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