180916J015865

180916J015865 is the designation used for a repeating fast radio burst (FRB) source, more commonly known as FRB 180916.J0158+65. It is one of the best-studied FRBs and was first detected in 2018 by the CHIME/FRB collaboration. The source is notable for its repeated activity, distinguishing it from many one-off FRB events.

Localization efforts using very long baseline interferometry linked FRB 180916.J0158+65 to a star-forming region in a relatively nearby spiral galaxy. The host galaxy lies at a cosmological distance of roughly 150 to 500 million light-years (redshift around 0.03), making it one of the closest FRB hosts identified to date. This proximity has facilitated detailed follow-up observations across multiple wavelengths and aided efforts to understand the local environment of FRBs.

A defining feature of FRB 180916.J0158+65 is its periodic activity. Analyses have revealed a roughly 16-day cycle in which bursts occur during specific portions of each cycle, with active windows lasting several days. This periodicity provides stringent constraints on theoretical models of FRB progenitors, including scenarios involving magnetars in binary systems or precessing emission beams.

In its observations, the source has shown diverse burst properties, including variations in spectral structure and burst energy, contributing to the broader effort to map the population and mechanisms of FRBs. FRB 180916.J0158+65 thus serves as a critical reference point for understanding repeating FRBs, their environments, and the physical processes that produce fast radio bursts.