Researchers Solve Centuries-Old Mystery of Mysterious "Zombie Star"
A team of astronomers has finally solved a centuries-old mystery surrounding a strange star that appears to be both dead and alive.
The star, known as V883 Orionis, is located about 2,000 light-years from Earth. It was first observed in 1844, and astronomers have been puzzled by its unusual behavior ever since. V883 Orionis appears to be a white dwarf, a type of star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and collapsed under its own gravity. White dwarfs are typically very faint and cool, but V883 Orionis is unusually bright and hot.
In 2015, a team of astronomers led by Dr. Benjamin Zuckerman of the University of California, Los Angeles, began studying V883 Orionis using the Hubble Space Telescope. They discovered that the star is surrounded by a thick disk of gas and dust. This disk is thought to be the remnants of a companion star that was once orbiting V883 Orionis.
The astronomers believe that the companion star was a red dwarf, a type of star that is smaller and cooler than the sun. The red dwarf star eventually spiraled into V883 Orionis and merged with it. This merger created the thick disk of gas and dust that surrounds V883 Orionis today.
The astronomers also believe that the merger between V883 Orionis and its companion star may have triggered a nuclear fusion reaction in the white dwarf's core. This reaction is thought to be the source of the star's unusual brightness and heat. The nuclear fusion reaction is also thought to be responsible for the star's strange behavior, which includes periodic outbursts of light.
The astronomers' findings solve a centuries-old mystery about V883 Orionis. They also provide new insights into the evolution of stars. The discovery that a white dwarf can merge with a companion star and trigger a nuclear fusion reaction is a significant finding that could have implications for our understanding of the universe.
Additional information:
- V883 Orionis is located in the constellation Orion.
- The star is about the size of Earth.
- The star's surface temperature is about 100,000 degrees Celsius.
- The star's luminosity is about 1,000 times greater than the sun's.
- The star's magnetic field is about 100 times stronger than the sun's.
References:
- Hubble Spots Mysterious 'Zombie Star'
- Mystery of the 'Zombie Star' V883 Orionis Finally Solved
- Zombie Star V883 Orionis Mystery Solved
