The Mystery of the Star That Wasn't There

Gaminga, a mysterious gamma-ray source discovered by NASA's SAS 2 satellite, puzzled astronomers for decades. Initially, its lack of visible light and radio waves made it difficult to identify. In 1987, a breakthrough revealed it as a pulsar, despite its unusual characteristics like age and radio silence. Theories suggest its magnetic field might absorb radio waves, or its emission angle might be misaligned with Earth. Gaminga also helped resolve a mystery about high-energy particles, previously thought to be linked to dark matter. This pulsar continues to intrigue scientists, offering insights into the universe.

What was the primary mystery about Gaminaga when it was first discovered?

• It emitted visible light but no gamma rays.

• It was a known source of radio waves.

• It emitted gamma rays but no visible light or radio waves.

• It was located in the constellation Orion.

What significant discovery was made about Gaminaga in 1987?

• A faint star was found in the same region as the gamma and X-rays.

• It was a source of dark matter.

• It was a new type of galaxy.

• It was a black hole.

Why is Gaminaga considered an unusual pulsar?

• It is much younger than other pulsars.

• It emits more radio waves than gamma rays.

• It is located outside the Milky Way.

• It is much older than other pulsars emitting similar gamma rays.

What is one theory explaining Gaminaga's lack of radio wave detection?

• It is too far from Earth.

• Its magnetic field absorbs radio waves.

• It does not emit any electromagnetic radiation.

• Its radio waves are too weak to detect.

How might Gaminaga's gamma ray cone affect radio wave detection?

• The gamma ray cone is wider than the radio wave cone.

• The radio wave cone is wider than the gamma ray cone.

• The gamma ray cone is narrower than the radio wave cone.

• Both cones are the same width.

What mystery did Gaminaga help resolve in the early 2000s?

• The origin of dark matter.

• The source of high-energy particles like electrons and positrons.

• The formation of black holes.

• The expansion rate of the universe.

What was initially thought to be the cause of the unexpected high-energy particles detected in the early 2000s?

• A nearby supernova.

• A new type of star.

• A black hole collision.

• Dark matter interacting with interstellar dust.