|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Some colliding white dwarfs can reignite fusion rather than go supernova
Colliding white dwarfs give each other a new lease on life
"Astronomers recently discovered the rather memorably named SDSS J010657.39–100003.3, which is a binary star system composed of two white dwarfs, one of which is 17% the Sun's mass, while the other is about 43%. The two orbit each other at a distance of just 140,000 miles, which is even closer than the distance between the Earth and the Moon. The two rotate each other at about a million miles per hour. When white dwarfs collide, one of two things can happen: if the combined masses is greater than 140% of the Sun, the collision creates a supernova. But in this case, the white dwarfs will actually reignite nuclear fusion, creating a brand new star just like our Sun that will, after another few billion years of renewed life, cool down into yet another white dwarf." http://ca.io9.com/5801997/colliding-...-lease-on-life |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Habitable zone around white dwarfs? | Orbitan | Astronomy Misc | 20 | June 13th 07 09:19 PM |
What if (on White Dwarfs) | BradGuth | Misc | 119 | June 2nd 07 01:57 PM |
What if (on White Dwarfs) | G=EMC^2 Glazier[_1_] | Misc | 183 | May 13th 07 09:09 PM |
What if (on White Dwarfs) | [email protected] | Misc | 0 | April 19th 07 09:58 PM |