Chandra X-ray Observatory Detects Mysterious X-Ray Flash from Large Magellanic Cloud, Potentially a New Astronomical Phenomenon

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory detected a peculiar X-ray flash, named XRT 200515, originating from the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a galaxy orbiting the Milky Way approximately 160,000 light-years away. The event, discovered by Steven Dillmann and his team at Stanford University while analyzing old Chandra data, lasted about 10 seconds over two decades ago. This flash exhibits characteristics distinct from other X-ray bursts observed by Chandra outside our galaxy. Researchers propose it could be a unique event within the LMC, possibly caused by a binary system featuring a neutron star and a companion star. The neutron star's gravity would draw gas from the companion, triggering a thermonuclear explosion and emitting X-ray bursts. An alternative explanation suggests the flash might be a rare flare from a distant magnetar located behind the LMC. However, the most intriguing possibility is that XRT 200515 represents an entirely new type of astronomical phenomenon, which scientists aim to confirm through future observations. This discovery underscores the dynamic nature of space and the continuous occurrence of unforeseen events.