Astronomers have described what may be the first known "microblazar," a small cosmic object whose high-energy beam appears to point directly at Earth, according to Live Science. The report, published Tuesday, says the object is a candidate for a class of source not previously confirmed.
A blazar is a compact object that fires a jet of particles and radiation toward the observer. In this case, Live Science reports, the object is much smaller than a typical blazar, which is why researchers have given it the "micro" label.
The finding matters because a beam aimed at Earth means the object's emission is intensified from our vantage point. Live Science describes the situation as Earth sitting in the firing line of this unusual source.
The report notes that the object remains a candidate rather than a confirmed member of a new class. No full details of the underlying study were available in the summary.
What to watch next: whether follow-up observations confirm the object as the first true microblazar or point to a different explanation.
