Astronomers using NASA’s Chandra observatory and Europe’s XMM-Newton spacecraft have finally solved a 45-year-old mystery surrounding an unusual X-ray signal detected in the Helix Nebula. The team of cosmic detectives believe that the signal is the dying scream of a planet destroyed by a superdense stellar corpse called a white dwarf.
The signal, which was first detected in 1980, has been puzzling scientists for decades. However, using data collected from these space telescopes and other observations, the team has determined that it could be caused by planetary debris pulled onto the white dwarf, marking the death knell of a planet in the Helix Nebula.
According to the research, a Neptune-sized planet was thought to have been orbiting the destructive dead star WD 2226-210, but now scientists believe that this planet once had a Jupiter-sized sibling that orbited even closer to the white dwarf. This doomed planet would have been ripped apart by the immense gravity of the dead star.
The team found evidence for the existence of this shattered planet through subtle changes in the X-ray signal around every three hours. By eliminating other possible explanations, such as a small companion star destroyed by the white dwarf, they confirmed that the signal is most likely caused by debris from the planet’s destruction falling onto the surface and being heated to glow in X-rays.
This breakthrough discovery suggests that there may be more systems like this one, which could teach us about the survival or destruction of planets around stars like the sun as they enter old age. The team’s research provides new insights into the complex interactions between white dwarfs, planetary debris, and the surrounding space environment.
Source: https://www.space.com/the-universe/45-year-old-mystery-signal-was-death-knell-of-planet-destroyed-by-zombie-star-video