Researchers discover Teleios: the perfect zombie star of the Milky Way!

Researchers discover Teleios: the perfect zombie star of the Milky Way!

An international research group has discovered a remarkable celestial object in the Milky Way that is puzzling researchers. The object, called Teleios, was identified using the state-of-the-art ASKAP radio telescope as part of the Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) project in Western Australia. Loud OE24 Teleios could be the remnant of a supernova. The central feature of this object is its almost perfect spherical shape, which is extremely rare in astronomy.

Teleios, derived from the ancient Greek word for “complete” or “perfect,” is characterized by its extraordinary circular symmetry. This symmetry contrasts with typical supernova remnants, which generally appear asymmetrical. This asymmetry arises from the uneven distribution of the interstellar medium (ISM), such as Gadgets360 reported. The discovery is generating great interest as it could provide clues to new insights into the nature of supernova explosions.

The properties of Teleios

The discovery of Teleios reveals several interesting facets. The remnant could be in an empty region of space, which would explain the perfect spherical structure. However, the distance from Teleios to Earth is still unclear; two calculations give different values: 7,175 light years and 25,114 light years. At the closer distance, Teleios would have a diameter of about 46 light-years, while at the greater distance it would reach a diameter of about 157 light-years.

Additionally, the estimated age of Teleios varies considerably: under 1,000 years if it is closer and over 10,000 years if it is further away. Most notably, no typical X-rays were detected, suggesting the possibility of a Type Iax supernova. This particular type of explosion remnant - also called a "zombie star" - could mean that Teleios could be closer to Earth (about 3,262 light-years) and smaller (about 11 light-years across).

The role of supernova remnants

Supernova remnants (SNR) are formed by the explosion of a star and manifest themselves as diffuse, expanding structures that contain, among other things, ejected matter from the explosion. Loud Wikipedia A supernova explosion expands at a speed of up to 10,000 km/s, with the shock wave heating the interstellar medium. The typical remains often have a shell-like structure. Some well-known examples of supernova remnants include the Crab Nebula, the Cirrus Nebula, and the remnants of Supernova 1987A.

The discovery of Teleios could expand our knowledge of the diversity and behavior of supernova explosions. Future higher resolution observations are planned to gain further insights into the formation, age and structure of Teleios. These further studies will be crucial to solving the mystery surrounding this extraordinary celestial object and deepening our understanding of the universe.