{
  "id": 15363483,
  "title": "Astronomers discover green star 280 light-years away; what makes it glow green",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/astronomers-discover-green-star-280-light-years-away-what-makes-it",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-18T06:02:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/astronomers-discover-green-star-280-light-years-away-what-makes-it-glow-green/articleshow/135024584.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Astronomers have identified a star exhibiting a peculiar green glow, a discovery that may alter our understanding of the colors emitted by dying stars. According to a study in RAS Techniques and Instruments, this white dwarf, designated WD J1330+6435, resides approximately 280 light-years away in the Draco constellation, casting an unusual chartreuse-green hue. This coloration stems from the interaction between sodium and helium in the star's extreme atmospheric conditions.\n\nThe research, part of a larger investigation into the unusual hues of white dwarfs, reveals that the atmospheric composition of these stellar remnants can greatly influence the light they emit, leading to colors outside the typical spectrum of orange, white, or blue. Mark Hollands, an astrophysicist at the University of Warwick and the study's lead author, stated, “The colors that normal stars can have are pretty much only orange, white or blue.” The green fluorescence of WD J1330+6435 is attributed to the unique physical conditions in its atmosphere, which modify the wavelengths of light absorbed by the star. Sodium's behavior in conjunction with helium under these intense conditions is key to the star's distinctive coloration.\n\nUnlike direct photographic evidence, the green appearance of this green star is inferred through spectral data and models of human color perception. Researchers utilized these tools to estimate how the star would appear, rather than relying on a visual observation captured at the moment of discovery. WD J1330+6435, located roughly 280 light-years from Earth, would have appeared as this green star 280 years ago, as a light-year represents the distance light travels in a year, approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers. The white dwarf boasts an estimated surface temperature of around 4,000 degrees Celsius and is remarkably compact, with a diameter comparable to Earth's.",
  "summary": "Astronomers have discovered an intriguing white dwarf star designated WD J1330+6435, nestled within the Draco constellation. Its striking green hue arises from the interaction of sodium and helium particles in its atmosphere. This celestial body lies about 280 light-years from Earth, presenting itself as it was 280 years ago. With a surface temperature nearing 4,000 degrees Celsius, its…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}