NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton satellite have provided new data that may solve a long-standing puzzle involving a mysterious X-ray signal from a dying star. The signal was detected in 1980, but its origin remained unknown.
Researchers believe that the X-ray signal could be from debris left behind by a planet destroyed by the white dwarf at the center of a planetary nebula known as the Helix Nebula (WD 2226-210). The team, led by Sandino Estrada-Dorado, found evidence suggesting a subtle, regular change in the X-ray signal every 2.9 hours.
The study suggests that there may have been a planet like Jupiter even closer to the white dwarf than previously thought. The gravity of the star could have torn apart this hypothetical planet, leaving behind debris that is now being pulled towards the white dwarf.
The discovery would be significant because it would mark the first time a planet has been seen destroyed by its central star in a planetary nebula. This finding could provide insights into the survival or destruction of planets around stars like our Sun as they enter old age.
Reference:
Estrada-Dorado, S., Guerrero, M. A., Toalá, J. A., Maldonado, R. F., Lora, V., Vasquez-Torres, D. A., & Chu, Y.-H. (2024). Accretion onto WD 2226$-$210, the central star of the Helix Nebula (No. arXiv:2412.07863). arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2412.07863
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/astronomers-trace-mysterious-signal-destroyed-planet-nasa-chandra-x-ray-2039990