Astronomers spot white dwarf star with two rings of planetary debris
In approximately 5 billion years, the sun is projected to become a red giant, ultimately losing its outer layers and transforming into a white dwarf. This stellar evolution may leave behind remnants of planets, which astronomers have now observed encircling a white dwarf named J1328−1450. Unlike previous white dwarfs with a single debris disc, J1328−1450 features two distinct rings of planetary material.
This unusual configuration could offer a glimpse into the potential fate of our solar system in the distant future. The discovery of J1328−1450, located roughly 1,600 light-years away in the constellation Virgo, was made using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile. The two rings may be the result of surviving planetary bodies embedded within the debris disc following the star's violent demise, according to researchers. One of these surviving bodies may have a size comparable to Pluto, while the other is smaller.
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- Astronomers spot white dwarf star with two rings of planetary debris channelnewsasia.com
