Nearby Star Smaller than Earth, Massive as Sun

space.com ^ | 12/13/05 | Robert Roy Britt

[KevinDavis]

The brightest star in our sky has a companion that’s smaller than Earth yet 98 percent as massive as the Sun, a new study reveals.

Astronomers already knew the brilliant blue-white Sirius had a stellar companion. But they didn’t know the object’s mass. The new measurement, announced today, was done by an international team of astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope.

Sirius is one of the closest known stars at 8.6 light-years away. It is twice as massive as the Sun and has a surface temperature of 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit (10,000 degrees C).

The companion, called Sirius B, was known to be much hotter. It is the scorching ember of a Sun-like star now called a white dwarf, and it’s the nearest of its kind. It was discovered in 1862 but close scrutiny is difficult because of the glare of the primary star.

“Studying Sirius B has challenged astronomers for more than 140 years," said Martin Barstow of the University of Leicester, U.K.

[clyde asbury]

The Webb cannot replace Hubble.

A strange comment to make to me, since I didn't refer to Webb in any way.

[Junior]

Also referred to as "The Pup".

I think that sobriquet is reserved for Alpha Canis Minoris (Procyon)...

[COEXERJ145]

No, Sirus' companion is called "the pup".

http://domeofthesky.com/clicks/sirius.html

[Junior]

Ahhh... my bust.

[Gordongekko909]

Ah, mistook "as" for "more."

[Batrachian]

The Webb telescope will be a much, much finer instrument than Hubble ever was. It will have something like 6 times the light grasp, and will be in a far orbit, away from the interference of Earth. There will be no comparison.

[RadioAstronomer]

It still does not see the bands that Hubble does. Guess I seem to be in the minority here for saving Hubble.

I guess I am a bit biased. When I was at Goddard, I got to spend some time in the Hubble control room.

Please don’t get me wrong. I think the Webb will be fantastic. I just want the two to compliment each other.

[longshadow]

I just want the two to compliment each other.

Webb: "That's fine lookin' mirror you got there, big fella!"

Hubble: "Why thank you! And your pointing system is a sight to behold!"

Webb: "Well, you're too kind...."

[RadioAstronomer]

Sigh. **Complement**

LOL!

[Batrachian]

Everyone wants to save Hubble. Did I say I didn't want to save Hubble? I want to save Hubble. It's not up to me. Everyone wanted to save Skylab, too. The Shuttle wasn't up and running in time to save Skylab, and down it came. Now, there aren't enough Shuttle missions available to save Hubble. The new CEV vehicles won't be ready in time, either.

If I had my way, NASA's budget would be ten times what it is today, and we'd have everything from new space telescopes to Mars missions to Lunar bases and everything else in between.

They should have replaced the Shuttle years ago, but you know how our government works, and space doesn't have a huge voting constituency like Medicaid or social security. I wish things where different.

[TShaunK]

I was doing it in my head.

[longshadow]

Sigh. **Complement**

gotcha!

;-)

[timer]

Yes, there is much more to the story : of how DeBoglie's U=c^2/v equation for the speed of matter waves got him posted to the "crazy aunt alice" catagory by Einstein and his relativists(nothing can exceed the speed of light). There is a momentum-c^2 loophole, not wormhole, LOOPHOLE wherein by "going" to 0 deg K locally(v=0)and using n/0=n-0=n and nx0=n+0=n, you can jump to c^2 line-momentum globally. E=mc^2=hw reduces to E=c^2=w. This is how aliens in UFOs get around so fast, covering 1 LY in 105 seconds(earth local). I can explain it still further if you like(in private post).

[hobbes1]

I am Sirius.....and Stop Calling me Shirley.

[add925]

Sirius....please don't let this be a Howard Stern thread.....