Astronomers Capture Most Sensitive Image of Star Cluster, Detect Unknown Radio Signal

The signal from globular cluster 47 Tucanae could indicate the presence of a black hole or a pulsar, marking a significant discovery in astronomy.

Astronomers have created the most sensitive radio image ever of a globular cluster, 47 Tucanae, revealing over a million stars and a remarkably bright and dense core.
The image was created from more than 450 hours of observations on CSIRO's Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), the deepest, most sensitive radio image ever compiled by any Australian radio telescope.
Scientists detected a previously unknown radio signal from the cluster’s center, which could be attributed to either a black hole or a pulsar.
If the signal is from a black hole, it would be the first ever radio detection of one inside a cluster.
The ultra-sensitive image previews the capabilities researchers can expect from the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescopes, currently under construction in Australia and South Africa.