MIT astronomers catch a star in a feast that could last billions of years
Astronomers have discovered a bizarre star system about 300 light-years from Earth where a small star is slowly devouring a nearby brown dwarf, an object too massive to be a planet but too small to be a true star. Unlike stars that rapidly swallow their companions, this one is gradually stealing material in a process that could continue for billions of years.
Astronomers have discovered a star system approximately 300 light-years away from Earth, where a small star is gradually consuming a nearby brown dwarf. This feeding process could continue for billions of years, rather than a sudden engulfment. Typically, planets orbit their stars in stable arrangements, but violent disruptions can occur if a planet ventures too close to its host star.
The observed system, ZTF J0440+2325, represents something between these two extremes. Initially, a peculiar triangular light pattern detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) puzzled astronomers, leading to the identification of this unique stellar relationship. Further investigation revealed that the star and brown dwarf have relatively small masses, allowing them to gently orbit each other for extended periods without the dramatic swallowing seen in other systems.
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