Tag

White Dwarf Star

All articles tagged with #white dwarf star

astronomy1 year ago•2 min saved

"White Dwarf Star: The Grim Fate of Our Solar System"

A study by scientists from the University of Warwick and other universities sheds light on the impact of white dwarf stars on planetary systems like our solar system. When asteroids, moons, and planets get close to a white dwarf, its gravity rips them into smaller pieces, eventually grinding them into dust. The study observed changes in brightness of three different white dwarfs over 17 years, revealing chaotic variability and catastrophic events. While Earth will likely be swallowed by the expanding sun before it becomes a white dwarf, other parts of our solar system, including asteroids and moons, may undergo the shredding process near a white dwarf.

via The Guardian|

#astronomical-research #astronomy #planetary-systems

astronomy1 year ago•2 min saved

"800-Year-Old Supernova Remnants Reveal 'Zombie' Star and Medieval Cosmic Firework"

Astronomers have imaged the remnants of an 800-year-old supernova, known as SNR 1181, located in the constellation Cassiopeia. The composite image from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory shows a spherical nebula surrounding a hot white dwarf star, likely formed during the supernova. This "zombie" star, one of the hottest in the Milky Way, resulted from the incomplete explosion of two merging white dwarf stars. Despite being observed 800 years ago, the supernova actually occurred around 10,900 years ago due to its distance from Earth.

via Space.com|

#astronomical-event #astronomy #chandra-x-ray-observatory

astronomy1 year ago•2 min saved

"Rediscovering the 800-Year-Old Supernova: A Stunning New Image"

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has captured a composite image of SNR 1181, the remnant of a supernova explosion that occurred 800 years ago, believed to be caused by the merger of two stars. The image shows a spherical nebula surrounded by stars, with a hot white dwarf star at its center. This rare explosion, likely a sub-luminous Type Iax event, has left behind a unique opportunity for studying such phenomena, and the composition of the remnant suggests it was formed in a thermonuclear explosion.

via NASA|

#astronomy #chandra-x-ray-observatory #nebula

astronomy1 year ago•2 min saved

"Metal Scar Unveils Cannibalistic Past of Zombie 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 planet it consumed. The scar was created by the star's powerful magnetic fields, which funneled the planetary material onto its surface. This discovery sheds light on the process of white dwarfs cannibalizing pieces of their planetary systems and provides unique insight into star systems beyond our own.

via Livescience.com|

#astronomical-observations #astronomy #magnetic-fields

astronomy2 years ago•0 min saved

"Mind-Blowing Space Images: July's Spectacular Highlights"

Astronomers at Caltech have discovered a peculiar white dwarf star named Janus, which has one side composed of hydrogen and the other side made of helium. In addition to this finding, here are five other remarkable space images and videos released in July.

via The New York Times|

#astronomy #caltech #janus

science-and-astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

Mysterious Janus: Unveiling the Enigma of a Two-Faced Dying Star

Scientists have discovered a peculiar white dwarf star, nicknamed "Janus," that has two different elements, hydrogen and helium, on either side of its orb-like surface. This is the first time such a stark separation of elements has been observed on a white dwarf. The researchers believe that Janus may have been caught during a convection phase where the elements started to mix together, and asymmetric magnetic fields could be responsible for the uneven distribution of elements. This discovery could shed light on the spectral evolution of white dwarfs and challenge our understanding of white dwarf atmospheres.

via Space.com|

#cosmic-oddity #hydrogen-and-helium #janus

astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

"Stellar Explosions: Latest Discoveries in Supernova Research"

Stockholm University astronomers have discovered an unusual Type Ia supernova called SN 2020eyj, which was detected in radio waves and showed strong helium emissions. This marks the first confirmed Type Ia supernova triggered by a white dwarf star that pulled material from a companion star with an outer layer consisting primarily of helium. Type Ia supernovae are important for measuring the expansion of the universe, and this discovery adds to our understanding of their origins.

via SciTechDaily|

#astronomy #helium-emissions #radio-waves