NASA's X-ray observatory reveals a hungry star devouring a young planet, first scientist

Scientists believe they have observed a star devouring a young planet, or planets, in what may be a first scientist

The hungry star, known as RW Aur A, is located about 450 light-years away. Since the earth. It has long intrigued researchers because, every few decades, its light fades briefly before lightening again. In recent years, these periods of gradation occurred more frequently and lasted longer.

Using data collected by NASA's Chandra Observatory – an extremely sensitive space observatory that detects X-rays – a team of scientists may have found an explanation. The evidence suggests that two infantile planetary bodies collided near the star, causing debris to fall, generating a thick cloud of dust and gas that temporarily obscured its light, according to a witness. study published in The Astronomical Journal .

"Computer simulations have long predicted that planets may fall into a young star, but we have never observed it before" Hans Moritz Guenther, researcher at the MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research and lead author of the study, said in a statement. "If our interpretation of the data is correct, it would be the first time we have directly observed a young star devouring a planet or planets."

Scientists suggest that previous gradation events may also have resulted from similar planetary collisions. RW Aur A is considered a very young star, probably a few million years old. Typically, stars at this stage of their life cycle are surrounded by a disc of gas and rotating material, ranging from small dust particles to miniature planets being formed.

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The observations made with Chandra over a period of five years – which included an illumination event in 2013, followed by two Graduation events in 2015 and 2017 – have allowed scientists to determine what kind of material present in the discs

The observatory has captured x-rays emitted from the external hot atmosphere of RW Aur A which has changed intensity during the three measurements – just like the gradation and lightening events observed in the observations of visible light from the star. allowing the team to determine the density and composition of the surrounding material.

These dives in visible light and X-ray emissions led the team to conclude that a dense gas masked light emissions. RW Aur A. In addition, the observation in 2017 indicated that the disk contained 10 times more iron atoms than the 2013 observation.

The authors suggest that this excess of Iron indicates that two infantile planetary bodies – one or both of which collide with the iron, releasing large amounts of metal into the star's disc and temporarily obscuring its light as the material falls into RW Aur A. However, they note that it is possible that the excess of iron comes from another source. 19659002] The illustration of this artist depicts the destruction of a young planet, which scientists have been able to see for the first time.

NASA / CXC / M.Weiss

The latest findings shed new light on the processes that affect the survival of the infant's planets, according to the researchers.

"Many efforts are currently devoted to the knowledge of exoplanets and their formation. So it's very important to see how young planets could be destroyed in their interactions with their hosts and other young planets, and what factors determine their survival, "Guenther said.

The next step for scientists is to try to determine if the amount of iron surrounding the star has changed, which could reveal the size of the iron source.