Post by Andrei Tchentchik on Jul 31, 2020 13:01:12 GMT 2
(.#460).- In less than 100 years, it will be the brightest star in the night sky.
In less than 100 years, it will be the brightest star in the night sky.
By: Brice Louvet, science editor
January 8, 2020, 12:07 p.m.
Crédits : iStock
A study suggests that two celestial objects will collide in 2083. The resulting star will temporarily become the brightest in the night sky.
The binary pair V Sagittae (or V Sge), found in the constellation of the Arrow, is made up of a white dwarf, a star's corpse, and another star about four times more massive. While the two objects coexist, part of the plasma of the largest star is attracted to the white dwarf. And according to new analyzes, this accretion process has accelerated for several decades.
A collision in 2083
The two stars have moved closer together and are now rotating around each other faster. Normally barely visible in the night sky, the binary couple appears to us brighter and brighter.
By modeling this “approximation,” astronomers at Louisiana State University have calculated that the two stars should collide in just over 80 years. Once the process is underway, V Sagittae will then become as visible (if not more so) than Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.
"We now have a strong prediction for the future of V Sge," said Bradley E. Schaefer, lead author of the study. “Over the next few decades, the biggest star will gradually light up. Around the year 2083, its accretion rate will increase catastrophically, spreading material at incredibly high rates on the white dwarf. "
Eventually the two companions will merge into one, resulting in the formation of an incredibly bright stellar wind under the watchful eye of future telescopes. This inevitable explosive event will be visible for about a month before gradually fading.
If you are still present (the uncertainty is ± 16 years), this will undoubtedly be an exceptional event not to be missed !
Artist's illustration of a white dwarf sucking up material from her binary companion.
Credits: LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy
And Betelgeuse, in all of this ?
Astronomers have also been taking a close interest in the red supergiant Betelgeuse for the past few weeks. We do know that this star has less than a million years to live, but it is unclear when the explosion could take place. This is why the slightest changes in activity are carefully scrutinized. And precisely, such changes have recently been recorded.
Several astronomers have indeed noticed a sudden drop in its brightness. This event could be a sign that an explosion is near, but other hypotheses can also explain it.
You should know that Betelgeuse is a so-called variable star. In other words, its brightness is constantly changing. Like the Sun, proportionally speaking, the star may simply start a new minimum cycle.
The second hypothesis suggests that the Betelgeuse stellar wind, a million times more powerful than that of the Sun, has ejected more dust than usual in its immediate environment. This would filter (and therefore mask) part of its light. Case to follow.
F I N .
In less than 100 years, it will be the brightest star in the night sky.
By: Brice Louvet, science editor
January 8, 2020, 12:07 p.m.
Crédits : iStock
A study suggests that two celestial objects will collide in 2083. The resulting star will temporarily become the brightest in the night sky.
The binary pair V Sagittae (or V Sge), found in the constellation of the Arrow, is made up of a white dwarf, a star's corpse, and another star about four times more massive. While the two objects coexist, part of the plasma of the largest star is attracted to the white dwarf. And according to new analyzes, this accretion process has accelerated for several decades.
A collision in 2083
The two stars have moved closer together and are now rotating around each other faster. Normally barely visible in the night sky, the binary couple appears to us brighter and brighter.
By modeling this “approximation,” astronomers at Louisiana State University have calculated that the two stars should collide in just over 80 years. Once the process is underway, V Sagittae will then become as visible (if not more so) than Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.
"We now have a strong prediction for the future of V Sge," said Bradley E. Schaefer, lead author of the study. “Over the next few decades, the biggest star will gradually light up. Around the year 2083, its accretion rate will increase catastrophically, spreading material at incredibly high rates on the white dwarf. "
Eventually the two companions will merge into one, resulting in the formation of an incredibly bright stellar wind under the watchful eye of future telescopes. This inevitable explosive event will be visible for about a month before gradually fading.
If you are still present (the uncertainty is ± 16 years), this will undoubtedly be an exceptional event not to be missed !
Artist's illustration of a white dwarf sucking up material from her binary companion.
Credits: LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy
And Betelgeuse, in all of this ?
Astronomers have also been taking a close interest in the red supergiant Betelgeuse for the past few weeks. We do know that this star has less than a million years to live, but it is unclear when the explosion could take place. This is why the slightest changes in activity are carefully scrutinized. And precisely, such changes have recently been recorded.
Several astronomers have indeed noticed a sudden drop in its brightness. This event could be a sign that an explosion is near, but other hypotheses can also explain it.
You should know that Betelgeuse is a so-called variable star. In other words, its brightness is constantly changing. Like the Sun, proportionally speaking, the star may simply start a new minimum cycle.
The second hypothesis suggests that the Betelgeuse stellar wind, a million times more powerful than that of the Sun, has ejected more dust than usual in its immediate environment. This would filter (and therefore mask) part of its light. Case to follow.
F I N .
