Remarkable White Dwarf Star Possibly Coldest, Dimmest Ever Detected
A team of astronomers has identified possibly the coldest, faintest white dwarf star ever detected. This ancient stellar remnant is so cool that its carbon has crystallized, forming – in effect – an Earth-size diamond in space.
White dwarfs are the remnants of stars of about the same mass as the Sun left after the end their lives fusing elements in their cores to make energy. After fusion stops, the condensed stellar core slowly radiates away its internal heat. By measuring the temperatures of white dwarf photospheres (surfaces), astronomers can estimate how many years have passed since core fusion ceased.
The Astrophysical Journal paper describing the new discovery announced today has been posted to astro-ph here.
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