Astronomers have recently discovered a new class of ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 4258. ULXs are extremely bright X-ray sources that are located outside of the nucleus of a galaxy, and they often emit more X-rays than expected from a single star. This new class of ULXs is particularly interesting because they are located in the spiral arms of NGC 4258, which suggests that the ULXs are related to star formation in the galaxy. The ULXs are also extremely bright, emitting X-ray luminosities that are up to 10,000 times higher than that of the Sun. Scientists believe that the ULXs are powered by accretion onto a compact object, such as a black hole or neutron star.

This discovery is exciting for astronomers, as it provides insight into the formation of ULXs in galaxies and their connection to star formation. As researchers continue to study the ULXs in NGC 4258, they hope to gain further insight into the nature of these mysterious objects.

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source: Phys.org