The 365 Days of Astronomy EVSN - Magnetar Exhibits Bizarre Behavior, Identity Crisis
Apr 25, 2025
Veselin Kostov, a research scientist at the SETI Institute specializing in exoplanets, joins the discussion about a radio-loud magnetar that had an identity crisis. They explore how this neutron star switched behaviors between magnetar and pulsar emissions. The conversation also touches on intriguing details about Mars' moon Phobos and Jupiter's moon Ganymede. Kostov highlights a newly discovered sextuple star system, raising questions about stellar formation and the use of machine learning in exoplanet discoveries.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Magnetar's Twisted Magnetic Mystery
- The magnetar Swift J1818.0 displayed unprecedented behavior, acting like both a pulsar and a magnetar.
- Its magnetic axis is misaligned and features two closely spaced poles linked by distorted magnetic field lines.
Tucana 2 Reveals Dark Matter Abundance
- The dwarf galaxy Tucana 2 exhibits stars formed from very primitive material with less heavy elements.
- Its dark matter content is greater than previously thought, suggesting first galaxies might have been larger than assumed.
Phobos Could Archive Mars Atmosphere
- Mars' moon Phobos may hold an archived record of Mars' lost atmosphere in its surface grains.
- This concept parallels how lunar samples capture solar and Earth atoms, preserving early solar system history.