2024-02-01 07:37:00
Astronomers have identified a new type of star known as an “old smoker” at the heart of the Milky Way. (Philip Lucas/University of Hertfordshire)
Researchers revealed the existence of a new type of star, nicknamed “old smoker,” located in the heart of the Milky Way. This discovery, the result of exhaustive monitoring of the night sky for a decade, expands knowledge regarding celestial phenomena and the distribution of elements in the universe.
You may be interested in: These are the houses with artificial lagoons that are driving real estate sales in the United States
“Old smokers” are aging giant stars that, following lying dormant for decades, burst suddenly, becoming almost invisible before emitting large amounts of material. These events are not only visually spectacular, but also play a crucial role in enriching the interstellar medium with various elements.
Detailed observations of these celestial bodies, which alternate long periods of inactivity with sporadic explosions emitting clouds of smoke and dust, were published on January 25, 2024 in four studies in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
These celestial bodies are aging giants that experience periods of inactivity, followed by eruptions that emit large amounts of material. (Philip Lucas/University of Hertfordshire)
The research used the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope, strategically located at the Cerro Paranal Observatory, in the Chilean Andes, to capture the infrared light of these stars, invisible to the human eye, thus allowing the discovery of these previously hidden stellar objects.
You may be interested: These are the United States airports with the worst conditions for connections
The accurate positioning of the telescope in high mountains and the adoption of observation techniques in the infrared spectrum were key to this discovery. “These stars are like ghosts in the telescope until they decide to reveal themselves, expelling material into space,” the astronomers explain in statements reported by CNN.
The research underlying these discoveries involved monitoring almost a billion stars, a testament to the scale and ambition of the project. This arduous task allowed astronomers to gather crucial data regarding the nature and behavior of aging stars, contributing significantly to our understanding of the universe. “The study of these ‘old smokers’ not only sheds light on their spectral nature, but also provides us with vital clues regarding the processes of star formation and evolution,” the researchers noted.
To carry out this research, the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope, located at the Cerro Paranal Observatory in the Chilean Andes, was used. The choice of this telescope was due to its ability to capture infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye but essential to observe these stars previously hidden by dense clouds of gas and dust. (Philip Lucas/University of Hertfordshire)
In a pioneering effort to discover newborn stars, scientists using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) have identified 32 stars in their infancy that increase in brightness by up to 300 times. These young stars, also known as protosteles, are elusive due to their darkness behind dense clouds of dust and gas in the Milky Way, which has hindered their detection using visible light.
You may be interested: Concern regarding the polluting footprint of the world’s largest cruise ship is clouding its maiden voyage
However, the use of infrared light allowed astronomers to penetrate these barriers, revealing objects that would otherwise remain hidden or be too faint to observe.
The team of Philip Lucas, professor of astrophysics at the University of Hertfordshire and lead author of one of the related studies, together with Dr. Zhen Guo, Fondecyt Postdoc Fellow at Valparaíso University and lead author of two of the studies, monitored hundreds of millions of stars, focusing on those that experienced notable changes in their brightness.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory was key in the identification of 32 stars in their infancy, known as protosteles, which increase their brightness by up to 300 times. (Philip Lucas/University of Hertfordshire)
As Lucas explained, “while two-thirds of the stars were easy to classify, the rest presented greater challenges,” leading the team to use more specialized instruments such as the VLT to study the stars individually.
In Guo’s words, “our main goal was to find newborn stars that are rarely seen, while they undergo a large eruption that can last from months to years, or even decades.” These flares occur in the slowly rotating disk of matter that is forming a new solar system, helping the star at the center grow, although making it difficult for planets to form due to the instability of the disks.
Of the stars monitored, 222 experienced significant changes in their brightness, indicating phenomena such as flares that increase their luminosity up to 40 times, and in some cases, up to 300 times. A large percentage of these flares remain active, giving astronomers a unique opportunity to closely follow how these stars evolve over time. According to the team, these observations will help to better understand why disks become unstable and how this process influences the formation of new solar systems.
1706809608
#Astronomers #discovered #unusual #type #star #hidden #heart #Milky
