US EditionAstronomers Spot White Dwarf that Guzzled a Pluto
The white dwarf has been accreting icy debris for at least 13 years at a rate of 200,000 kg per second, revealing water-rich bodies common in other planetary systems.
- This month, University of Warwick astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope observed WD 1647+375, white dwarf, about 255 light-years away in the Milky Way galaxy, consuming a frozen, water-rich planetary fragment.
- Study authors say the fragment likely originated from the crust and mantle of a Pluto-like icy world, tidally distorted and cracked as it neared the white dwarf.
- Spectra show the object was ice-rich, composed of 64% water and volatiles including carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen, with ~5% nitrogen in the accreted mass.
- This discovery marks the first unambiguous finding of a hydrogen-atmosphere white dwarf absorbing an icy planetesimal, suggesting volatile-rich bodies carry building blocks of life across planetary systems, Sahu said.
- Hubble Space Telescope's ultraviolet spectroscopy enabled researchers to read WD 1647+375's chemical archive, proving essential for future searches for volatiles and life-building compounds.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Icy planetesimal with high nitrogen and water content discovered in white dwarf's atmosphere
University of Warwick astronomers have uncovered the chemical fingerprint of a frozen, water-rich planetary fragment being consumed by a white dwarf star outside our solar system.
The astronomers who use the Hubble Space Telescope have observed a little white – an extremely compact star – that appears to have been “inflated” a frozen world similar to the planet’s Pitic Pleto, a discovery that...
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RapplerAstronomers spot white dwarf that guzzled a Pluto
WASHINGTON :Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have observed a white dwarf - a highly compact stellar ember - that appears to have gobbled up an icy world akin to the dwarf planet Pluto, a finding with implications regarding the likelihood of habitable planets beyond our solar system.The white dwarf
Hubble Reveals White Dwarf Devouring a Frozen, Pluto
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have uncovered the remains of a frozen, Pluto-like world being devoured by a distant white dwarf star. This cosmic “crime scene” not only reveals the dramatic fate of planetary fragments but also strengthens the case that the ingredients for life are scattered throughout the galaxy. Discovery of a Frozen, [...]
Icy planetesimal with high nitrogen and water content discovered in white dwarf's atmosphere - Tech and Science Post
University of Warwick astronomers have uncovered the chemical fingerprint of a frozen, water-rich planetary fragment being consumed by a white dwarf star outside our solar system. In our solar system, it is thought that comets and icy planetesimals (small solid objects in space) were responsible for delivering water to Earth. The existence of these icy objects is a requirement for the development of life on other worlds, but it is incredibly dif…
Astronomers at the University of Warwick discovered the chemical footprint of a frozen, water-rich planetary fragment consumed by a white dwarf star outside our solar system. In our solar system, it is believed that comets and glazed planets (small solid objects in space) were responsible for the delivery of water [...]
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