A Ceres-like asteroid is slowly disintegrating as it orbits a white
dwarf star. Astronomers have spotted telltales signs of such an object
using data from the Kepler K2 mission. It is the first planetary object
detected transiting a white dwarf. Within about a million years the object will be destroyed, leaving a thin dusting of metals on the surface of the white dwarf.
During observations of the white dwarf WD 1145+017, astronomers noticed the presence of several planetary pieces in orbit. The total mass of debris is thought to be
around the size of the asteroid Ceres in our solar
system's main asteroid belt.
These small planetary husks, all having orbits of between 4.5
to 4.9 hours, are too small to be seen by themselves; but their presence
became known when the researchers detected huge dust clouds trailing
them in their orbits. Follow-up observations by ground-based
observatories were used to decipher what elements are inside the debris.
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2 comments:
This is quite interesting. It is also amazing how small a "planet" we can now detect (though the host star being a white dwarf does make it much easier.)
it certainly is amazing! I was watching a vid blog called smarter every day and they were talking about the drill on the curiosity that allows scientists to explore different layers by studying dust from the bit! Crazy how far re search has advanced!
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