Hubble Space Telescope may have found a planet born after its star died
Astronomers analyzing archival Hubble Space Telescope data have discovered evidence of a second-generation planet forming around a white dwarf star. The presence of high levels of niobium suggests that planets can form from the debris of a dying star rather than just during the initial star formation process.
Why it matters
This finding challenges existing models of planetary formation and suggests that planetary systems may have a longer, more complex life cycle than previously thought.
Astronomers revisiting decades-old observations from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have found a new clue in a long-running cold case. According to a study published Oct. 5 in Nature Astronomy, an unusual chemical signature suggests that the white dwarf HS 0209+0832 could be home to a second-generation planet.
A white dwarf is the leftover core of a low-mass star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and shed its outer layers of gas and dust into space. Unlike ordinary planets, which form alongside young stars, a second-generation planet takes shape later from material released by a dying star.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in