Tag

Stellar Systems

All articles tagged with #stellar systems

"Scientists Stunned by Impossibly Large Exoplanet Discovery"
astronomy2 years ago

"Scientists Stunned by Impossibly Large Exoplanet Discovery"

Penn State researchers have discovered an unusually massive planet, LHS 3154b, orbiting an ultracool dwarf star. This finding, contradicting current theories, prompts a reassessment of star and planet formation processes. The planet's mass is over 13 times that of Earth, while its host star, LHS 3154, has a mass significantly lower than the sun. The discovery challenges existing models of planet formation and raises questions about the formation of stars. The researchers used the Habitable Zone Planet Finder (HPF) instrument to detect the planet, which is the most massive known planet in a close orbit around an ultracool dwarf star.

Unveiling the Secrets of Triple Stellar Systems and 'Vampire Stars'
astronomy2 years ago

Unveiling the Secrets of Triple Stellar Systems and 'Vampire Stars'

Scientists from the University of Leeds have discovered that some star systems believed to have two stellar bodies may actually have a hidden third star, which acts as a traitorous companion. These "vampire stars" or "Be" stars, surrounded by rings of superheated gas, feed on their companions, pushing them towards each other. The researchers found that Be stars might live in triple star systems rather than double star systems, challenging previous theories. This discovery could transform our understanding of how the most massive stars in the cosmos evolve and provide insights into the formation of black holes and neutron stars.