Scientists from around the world discovered the tiniest star. J0526, a binary star, is 2,760 light-years distant. In the binary pair, J0526 orbits a subdwarf white dwarf, J0526B. Chinese astronomers predicted the appearance of this planetary couple 20 years ago, and contemporary astronomy has confirmed it.
The Nature Astronomy study found that J0526 is a carbon- and oxygen-rich white dwarf with 74% of the Sun’s mass. The short orbital period of 20.5 minutes makes this binary system unusual and establishes a new record for cosmic coupling.
J0526, a dimmer star, appears larger than a white dwarf due to its thin hydrogen atmosphere. As the two stars orbit each other at tremendous speed, the white dwarf is dragging its partner tidally, deforming it into an ellipsoid.
After that, the scientists used the Keck-I telescope in Hawaii and the Gran Telescopio Canarias in Spain to gather more data on these astronomical objects. Since J0526 reveals subdwarf origins, this discovery is crucial. Also, the revelation allows us to comprehend how small celestial things form.
Commonly known as the binary star system, two stars orbiting a barycenter, or mass center, are gravitationally influenced by each other. J0526 and J0526B, where the white dwarf is the primary star and the hot subdwarf is the other, are different.
This discovery improves our understanding of stellar events and binary star system interactions. As science advances, cosmic mysteries are solved, paving the way for new celestial body discoveries.
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