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Did the star HD 82943 swallow one of its planets? The VLT Uncovers Traces of Stellar Cannibalism
SpaceRef ^
| Wednesday, May 9, 2001
| European Southern Observatory
Posted on 09/29/2009 6:03:05 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Using the very efficient UVES high-resolution spectrograph at the ESO VLT 8.2-m KUEYEN telescope, they have convincingly detected the presence of the rare isotope Lithium-6 (6Li; [2]) in this metal-rich, solar-type dwarf star that is also known to possess a planetary system, cf. ESO Press Release 13/00.
Unlike the Lithium-7 (7Li) isotope of this light element, any primordial Lithium-6 would not survive the early evolutionary stages of a metal-rich solar-type star. The Lithium-6 now seen in HD 82943 must therefore have been added later, but from where? The astronomers believe that this observation strongly suggests that the star has at some moment engulfed one of its planets, whose Lithium-6 was then deposited in the star's atmosphere.
This surprising discovery represents important observational evidence that planets may fall into their host stars.
(Excerpt) Read more at spaceref.com ...
TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; catastrophism; hd82943; kueyen; lithium6; science; telescope; xplanets
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To: SunkenCiv
But I’m sure you’d miss Uranus.
After the dinner I just had I'm sure I would.
Seriously I suspect we really would miss it if any of the planets were to suddenly disappear. The sun and planets orbit a common center of gravity and the sudden disappearance of trillions of tons would likely cause a sudden shift. Maybe it would cause all the planets to fling off into space.
21
posted on
09/29/2009 6:50:10 PM PDT
by
cripplecreek
(Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
To: GeronL
Might be a lesson there....
To: libh8er
23
posted on
09/29/2009 7:25:08 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
To: SunkenCiv
24
posted on
09/29/2009 7:52:57 PM PDT
by
ROTB
("By any means necessary"=EvilExcusd "The urge 2 save humanity is [often a ruse] for the urge 2 rule")
To: SunkenCiv
Wouldn’t stellar cannibalism be if one star swallowed another?
This is more like stellar carnivorousness.
25
posted on
09/29/2009 8:14:14 PM PDT
by
Sherman Logan
("The price of freedom is the toleration of imperfections." Thomas Sowell)
To: Sherman Logan
Yeah, that didn’t make sense to me either, but the headline was 96 characters long, no room for a bracketed remark, and by the time I got done with everything, I’d forgotten. :’)
Planets are delicious with fresh-ground pepper...
26
posted on
09/30/2009 4:17:37 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
To: SunkenCiv
Coooooooooool Well hot actually. But not for the planet I guess.....
27
posted on
09/30/2009 4:25:13 PM PDT
by
Danae
(No political party should pick candidates. That's the voters job.)
To: Danae
It would turn the whole planet into the greatest amusement park ride *ever*. Y’know, temporarily. And it would be a bummer to be on the dark side, away from the action.
28
posted on
09/30/2009 4:59:22 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
To: ROTB
29
posted on
09/30/2009 5:22:38 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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