Modern Australian
The Times

This object in space flashed brilliantly for 3 months, then disappeared. Astronomers are intrigued

  • Written by Natasha Hurley-Walker, Radio Astronomer, Curtin University
This object in space flashed brilliantly for 3 months, then disappeared. Astronomers are intriguedArtist visualisationAuthor provided

“Holy sharks, Batman, it’s periodic!”

I exclaimed on Slack.

It was the first lockdown of 2021 in Perth, and we were all working from home. And when astronomers look for something to distract themselves from looming existential dread, there’s nothing better than a new cosmic mystery.

In 2020...

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