The harsh destiny of a planet?

Using the very efficient UVES high-resolution spectrograph at the ESO VLT 8.2-m KUEYEN telescope, they have convincingly detected the presence of the rare isotope Lithium-6 (6 Li; [2]) in this metal-rich, solar-type dwarf star that is also known to possess a planetary system.

Unlike the Lithium-7 (7 Li) isotope of this light element, any primordial Lithium-6 would not survive the early evolutionary stages of a metal-rich solar-type star. The Lithium-6 now seen in HD 82943 must therefore have been added later, but from where? The astronomers believe that this observation strongly suggests that the star has at some moment engulfed one of its planets, whose Lithium-6 was then deposited in the star's atmosphere.

The video shows an artist's impression of the engulfment of a planet.

Crédito:

ESO

Sobre el vídeo

Identificador:eso0118a
Fecha de publicación:9 de Mayo de 2001
Noticias relacionadas:eso0118
Duración:10 s
Frame rate:30 fps

Sobre el objeto

Tipo:Milky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Planetary System
Categoría:Exoplanets
Stars

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