Punctum spotted in nearby galaxy

Astronomers report a powerful unknown object named Punctum in NGC 4945, detected at millimeter wavelengths and not fitting known categories.

Punctum detected in nearby galaxy

Astronomers led by Elena Shablovinskaia report the discovery of Punctum in the spiral galaxy NGC 4945, about 11 million light-years away. Detected in millimeter wavelengths by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, the object is unusually bright yet unseen in visible or X-ray light. Its brightness reportedly outshines magnetars by up to 100,000 times and rivals all known supernova remnants except the Crab Nebula. The source also appears stable over time and shows strong polarization, hinting at a highly organized magnetic field. No current astrophysical model cleanly explains Punctum, though researchers have considered a magnetar or a compact supernova remnant in a dense environment.

The finding challenges how scientists classify exotic objects. It shows that millimeter data can reveal powerful sources that hide in other wavelengths and that current theories need stretching. The work also highlights the value of multi-wavelength follow ups and cautious interpretation so early excitement does not outpace verification. If confirmed, Punctum could push theorists to rethink compact sources and may guide new observational strategies with instruments like JWST and future telescopes.

Highlights

The cosmos still hides surprises as scientific tools sharpen our questions.