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Old Smokers

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astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

"Discovery of 'Old Smoker' Stars Unveils Milky Way's Ancient Secrets"

Astronomers have discovered a new type of star in the Milky Way, nicknamed "old smokers," which exhibit a peculiar puffing behavior. These red giants sit quietly for long periods before suddenly emitting clouds of smoke, a phenomenon never seen before. The discovery was made during a 10-year survey using the VISTA telescope in Chile, initially aimed at finding newborn stars. The stars, located in the Nuclear Stellar Disc near the galaxy's center, are believed to be throwing off puffs of dust for reasons not fully understood, potentially impacting the distribution of heavy elements in the galaxy.

via Phys.org|

#astronomy #astrophysics #milky-way

astronomy2 years ago•1 min saved

"Astronomers Uncover Ancient Smoking Stars in Milky Way's Core"

Astronomers have discovered a group of giant elderly stars, dubbed "old smokers," at the center of the Milky Way emitting solar system-sized clouds of dust and gas. These stars, previously faded to near invisibility, suddenly release vast clouds of smoke, a phenomenon attributed to convection currents and instabilities within the stars. The discovery, made during a 10-year survey of almost a billion stars in infrared light, has wider implications for the spread of heavy elements in the nuclear disc and metal-rich regions of other galaxies.

via The Guardian|

#astronomy #giant-stars #interstellar-space