Space brings a seven-minute signal from a white dwarf and a Sun-like star. Astronomers mapped the 5,000-light-year system using radio telescopes.
The discovery links long-period radio transients to binary pairs containing G-type stars. Curtin University and International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research teams published the findings in Nature Astronomy.
The system, cataloged as GPM J071507−114153, emits pulses every 7.9 minutes. birgun.net reported that observations revealed a secondary 1.3-day orbital cycle between the two objects.
Stellar System Observations
Researchers processed over 100 hours of computing data to track the white dwarf’s orbit. Sam McSweeney said the pulsation data provides a clear view of the white dwarf moving around its companion star, according to Independent Türkçe.
The system was initially detected by the Murchison Widefield Array in Western Australia. Sözcü Gazetesi said that between December 2024 and September 2025, telescopes recorded 214 distinct radio pulses from the source.
South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope array pinpointed the precise coordinates of the object. W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii verified the companion star belongs to the G-type main-sequence category.
Companion Star Storms
Radio wavelengths allowed scientists to detect stellar flares on the G-type star. Natasha Hurley-Walker said detecting storms on a star over 5,000 light-years away using radio waves is remarkable.
DonanımHaber explained that long-period transients differ from rapidly spinning pulsars due to their extended intervals. These systems help astronomers locate white cored remnants that evade standard optical surveys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes GPM J071507−114153 different from previous discoveries?
Previous long-period transient sources were typically paired with smaller, colder red dwarfs, whereas this system features a G-type star similar to the Sun, as Sözcü Gazetesi detailed.
How many pulses were recorded by the research team?
Astronomers recorded a total of 214 radio pulses from the system between December 2024 and September 2025, according to Sözcü Gazetesi.
Which telescopes were used to study the stellar system?
Researchers utilized the Murchison Widefield Array and Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre in Australia, the MeerKAT array in South Africa, and the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii, birgun.net and Independent Türkçe reported.
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