'What-is-this': Experts puzzled by 'strange' elongated object that makes star disappear

Astronomers and space experts have been left puzzled by a star in middle of Milky Way which keeps blinking in and out of existence. While many stars change ir brightness because y pulsate or are eclipsed by or stars, this one has particularly intrigued scientists because it faints for several months and n suddenly revives its brightness. star named VVV-WIT-08 is located in centre of Milky Way galaxy, roughly 25,000 light years away from planet earth.

Following years of observation and analysis, astronomers have speculated that star could be a new class of “blinking giant” binary system, which is blocked after every few deces. While team is still probing into what could be concealing star, ir observation has revealed that a companion to star, which could be anor planet or star, is covered by an opaque disc.

'What- is-this' 

Speaking about same to Independent, Professor Philip Lucas from University of Hertfordshire said that occasionally y find variable stars that “don’t fit into any established category, which we call ‘what-is-this?’, or ‘WIT’ objects”. Elaborating furr, he said that experts are yet to find “how se blinking giants came to be” ding that it was exciting to see such discoveries from VVV after so “many years planning and garing data”.

While VVV-WIT-08 continues to intrigue scientific community, NASA recently shared a stunning image of two spinning galaxies merging in a galaxy system 140 million light-years from Earth.  Shockwaves vibrate across both galaxies as y merge, triggering waves of fresh star formation, according to American space agency. Some of se stars are enormous, and ir lives are brief but violent. Two oval-shaped items in close proximity release bundles of blue X-rays that brighten surrounding areas, according to photograph. 25 strong X-ray sources are scattered throughout galactic system, according to data from NASA's Chandra Observatory.

Image: Amanda Smith/ University of Cambridge