Curiously, Punctum (a Point) cannot be seen in optical or X-ray light. It only reveals itself in millimetre radio wavelengths, a rarity for such a bright and compact source. This makes it invisible to most space observatories, leaving ALMA as the only instrument currently able to detect it.

A Strange Signal from a Nearby Galaxy

Astronomers have uncovered a baffling new object in the nearby galaxy NGC 4945, located just 11 million light-years away. The discovery, nicknamed “Punctum” Latin for “point” or “dot” was made using the powerful ALMA telescope in Chile. So far, nothing in the known universe quite matches its profile.

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a revolutionary astronomical interferometer located in the Atacama Desert of Chile. It's the world's largest ground-based telescope for observing millimeter and submillimeter radiation, allowing scientists to study the coldest, darkest, and earliest parts of the universe.

ALMA is not a single telescope, but a collection of 66 high-precision antennas, functioning as a single, powerful interferometer. It operates at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths, which are between radio waves and infrared light.

These wavelengths allow ALMA to observe the universe's coldest and darkest objects, including: the first stars and galaxies; Dusty regions where stars and planets are forming; The center of our Milky Way galaxy, it is situated on the Chajnantor plateau in the Chilean Andes at an altitude of 5,000 meters (16,000 feet).

Its antennas can be arranged in different configurations, allowing for a variable "zoom" capability, with baselines ranging from 150 meters to 16 kilometers.

ALMA is a product of international collaboration, involving partners from North America, East Asia, and Europe.

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Cutting-edge Technology

ALMA is equipped with state-of-the-art receivers and other technologies to detect and analyze faint signals from the distant universe.

New Window on the Universe

ALMA provides a unique window into the universe by observing millimeter and submillimeter radiation, which is not easily accessible from other telescopes.

Unprecedented Sensitivity and Resolution: It offers high sensitivity and resolution, allowing astronomers to see details never before observed.

Complementary Capabilities: ALMA's observations complement those of other telescopes, like the Hubble Space Telescope and the Very Large Telescope, providing a more complete picture of celestial objects.

Scientific Breakthroughs

ALMA has already made significant contributions to our understanding of galaxy formation, star and planet formation, and the early universe.

In fact, ALMA is an astronomical interferometer of 66 radio telescopes.

Power Beyond Anything Expected:

Outside of supermassive black holes, few cosmic objects are this energetic. Punctum is 10,000–100,000 times more luminous than typical magnetars, around 100 times brighter than microquasars, and vastly outshines almost every known supernova. The Crab Nebula is the only star-related source in our galaxy that can compete.

Invisible to Most Telescopes

Curiously, Punctum can’t be seen in optical or X-ray light. It only reveals itself in millimetre radio wavelengths, a rarity for such a bright and compact source. This makes it invisible to most space observatories, leaving ALMA as the only instrument currently able to detect it.

A Compact, Highly Magnetic Enigma

The light from Punctum is strongly polarized, indicating a highly ordered magnetic field. This points to it being a compact object, possibly a magnetar or something even stranger — but its intensity at these wavelengths is far beyond what such objects normally produce.

Not a Supernova: Not a Pulsar

Supernova remnants like the Crab Nebula are bright in the millimeter range, but they’re vast in size. Punctum is far smaller, ruling out a typical explosion remnant. Pulsars and magnetars, meanwhile, can’t explain its extreme brightness at this wavelength.

Could It be a New Class of Cosmic Object?

Astronomers admit it may be the first example of an entirely new category of astrophysical object, one that has escaped detection until now because only ALMA has the sensitivity to find it. Alternatively, it could be an extreme version of a known phenomenon, behaving in ways never seen before.

The Hunt for Answers Continues

Future observations from ALMA will target Punctum directly, while the James Webb Space Telescope could check for an infrared counterpart. If found, this may reveal whether its radiation is pure synchrotron or involves dust and other emissions. Until then, Punctum remains one of the most intriguing mysteries in the night sky and possibly, the first of its kind.

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