Metallic Scar: Evidence of a Cannibal White Dwarf Star
Astronomers have discovered a white dwarf star, WD 0816-310, with a metallic "scar" on its surface, believed to be the remnants of a planetary fragment that came too close. This finding challenges previous assumptions about how planetary material is distributed on white dwarfs, as the scar appears to be held in place by the star's magnetic field. The discovery provides valuable insights into the composition of exoplanets and sheds light on the final moments of planetary fragments as they are tidally shredded and consumed by the white dwarf.