33 votes

Unexplained space phenomenon has been lighting up every twenty minutes since 1988

6 comments

  1. [4]
    doctorwu
    Link
    If it's impossible for a single object to behave this way, seems like it must be more than one -- and the long 22 minute period some kind of artifact of how they interact. Though I'm at a loss to...

    If it's impossible for a single object to behave this way, seems like it must be more than one -- and the long 22 minute period some kind of artifact of how they interact. Though I'm at a loss to describe what that would interaction would look like.

    7 votes
    1. [3]
      Omnicrola
      Link Parent
      Just off the top of my head, maybe it's actually a binary system? And the companion object of the radio source blocks or turns it away from earth for most rotations and only lines it up with us...

      Just off the top of my head, maybe it's actually a binary system? And the companion object of the radio source blocks or turns it away from earth for most rotations and only lines it up with us occasionally?

      5 votes
      1. [2]
        Rien
        Link Parent
        I recently learned that most star systems in the universe are binary or tri-star systems. We historically worked under the impression that our solar system isn’t unique and based our assumptions...

        I recently learned that most star systems in the universe are binary or tri-star systems. We historically worked under the impression that our solar system isn’t unique and based our assumptions on that fact, but in the past few decades, especially with the advent of better space telescopes, that we’re pretty unique. Not only are most star systems not singular but the ordering of planets in our solar system (small rocky planets closer with gas giants on the outside) is incredibly rare with this fact. I think the study said we’re the 1% off the top of my head.

        6 votes
        1. joeglen
          Link Parent
          I'm surprised about the supposed rarity of rocky vs gaseous planet ordering in other star systems. Maybe it's due to 1 vs 2 vs 3 stars, but it's assumed that the frost line determines where rocky...

          I'm surprised about the supposed rarity of rocky vs gaseous planet ordering in other star systems. Maybe it's due to 1 vs 2 vs 3 stars, but it's assumed that the frost line determines where rocky vs gas planets form. Closer to a star, it's too hot for certain elements to condense, so it's only so farther away that we can get gas planets to form at all. So, for our solar system that line exists between Mars and Jupiter. I'm curious why it might be different in other systems

          3 votes
  2. radium
    Link
    Probably the trisolarans. Better not send any messages back their way.

    Probably the trisolarans. Better not send any messages back their way.

    5 votes
  3. Protected
    Link
    It's the Outer Wilds (Nomai) system! (To my dismay someone already made this joke over at ars technica, but I can still be the first one to make it here!)

    It's the Outer Wilds (Nomai) system!

    (To my dismay someone already made this joke over at ars technica, but I can still be the first one to make it here!)

    3 votes