[ad_1]
A planetary fragment gravitates around star SDSS J122859.93 + 104032.9, leaving a trail of gas in its wake. (Credit: University of Warwick / Mark Garlick)
A terrifying new study may have shed light on Earth's ultimate destiny by examining a recently discovered planet nearly 400 light-years from Earth.
The study, published in Science, shows that the piece of the unnamed dead planet (called "planetesimal") has a metal core and surrounds the white dwarf star, known as SDSS J122859.93 + 104032.9, once every two hours.
"The gravity of the white dwarf is so strong – about 100,000 times greater than that of Earth – that a typical asteroid will be torn by gravitational forces if it passes too close to the white dwarf," said the Lead author of the study, Dr. Christopher Manser, a professor at the University of Warwick said in a statement.
10 EXPERTS – HAVE EXPECTED THAT THE WORLD WILL END NOW
Dr. Manser added: "The star would have been at the origin of about two solar masses, but now the white dwarf represents only 70% of the mass of our Sun.It is also very small – about the size of the Earth – which makes the stars, and in general all the white dwarves, extremely dense. "
The discovery of the planetesimal, located 410 light-years from Earth, gives an idea of what planets reside in other solar systems, as well as a glimpse of what will eventually happen to Earth, said Dr. Manser.
The unnamed planet was discovered using the Gran Telescopio Canarias in La Palma.
Despite its clearly diminished state, the unnamed planet is not completely dead because of its metallic core, the researchers suggested.
"If it was pure iron, it could survive where it lives now, but it could also be a body rich in iron but with an internal force to maintain it." in place, which is consistent with the fact that the planetesimal is a pretty massive fragment of the planet's core. "said a co-author of the study, Professor Boris Gaesicke, in the statement.
"If it's okay, the original body was at least several hundred kilometers in diameter, because it's only then that the planets start to differentiate themselves – like oil on the water – and that heavier elements sink to form a metal core, "Gaesicke continued.
Israel's lunar lander Beresheet captured this image of the Earth on March 31, 2019, at a distance of about 16,000 kilometers. The Arabian Peninsula and southeastern Africa are visible.
EVIDENCE FOR THE MYSTERIOUS PLANET NEXT CONTINUE TO RISE, COULD BE "A MISSING LINK OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM"
The future of the earth
"As the stars age, they become red giants, which clean much of the inner part of their planetary system," he continued. Manser said the Sun would continue to expand where the Earth orbited, sweeping not only our planet, but also Mercury and Venus. Mars will be evicted and will continue to survive with the expansion of the Sun, researchers said.
"The general consensus is that in 5 to 6 billion years, our solar system will be a white dwarf instead of the Sun, orbited by Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the outer planets, as well as asteroids and comets" said Dr. Manser continued.
"Gravitational interactions are likely to occur in such remnants of planetary systems, which means that large planets can easily push smaller bodies into an orbit that brings them closer to the white dwarf, where they are destroyed by its enormous gravity" concluded Dr. Manser. .
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
[ad_2]
Source link