2023-08-14 20:10:58
The binary system, the most extreme of its kind known to date, has been identified thanks to data from the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory
In a breakthrough for astrophysics, researchers have unveiled a binary celestial system located regarding 1,400 light-years away that might reshape our knowledge of planets and stars under extreme conditions.
This system opens a unique window on the study of “hot Jupiters”, planets similar to Jupiter but with scorching temperatures due to their proximity to the stars. Published in Nature Astronomy, the study revealed a binary system composed of a remnant of a Sun-like star, and a star-like object not massive enough for hydrogen fusion. This binary system, the most extreme of its kind known to date, was identified thanks to data from the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory.
Dr Na’ama Hallakoun, lead author of the study from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel says: “We have identified a Jupiter-like object orbiting a star that is the hottest ever found, regarding 2 000 degrees hotter than the sun.”
Weizmann Institute of ScienceDr. Na’ama Hallakoun
Due to its large size relative to the faint star it orbits, it presents a rare opportunity to study the extreme conditions of hot Jupiters. The system also offers insight into the evolution of binary stars. The brown dwarf’s remarkable density, being 80 times more massive than Jupiter but compressed to Jupiter’s size, allows it to survive the gravitational forces of its star.
The extreme temperatures caused by its close orbit create stark differences between its daytime and nighttime hemispheres, making it easier to understand atmospheric impacts on exoplanets. Dr. Hallakoun’s research, building on previous work, advances knowledge of hot Jupiters and provides an invaluable window into the evolution of binary systems.
The system, an unprecedented glimpse into this type of binary configuration, paves the way for studying the impact of extreme ultraviolet radiation on planetary atmospheres and refining our understanding of the development of stars and planets.
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