WD 1145+017

Coordinates: 11h 48m 33.63s, +01° 28′ 59.4″

WD 1145+017
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0 [1]      Equinox J2000.0 [1]
Constellation Virgo[2]
Right ascension 11h 48m 33.63s [1]
Declination +01° 28′ 59.4″ [1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 17.0 [3]
Distance570[4] ly
(174.0 [3] pc)
Spectral typeDB [1]
Other designations
WD 1145+017,[1] EPIC 201563164[3]

WD 1145+017[1] (EPIC 201563164[3]) is a white dwarf star. It is the first white dwarf to be observed with a transiting planetological object. The supposed planetessimal, WD 1145+017 b,[3] with a 4.5 hour orbit, is being ripped apart by the star and a remnant of the former planetary system that the star hosted before becoming a white dwarf. It is the first observation of a planetological object being shredded by a white dwarf. Several other large pieces have been seen in orbit as well. All the various larger pieces have orbits of 4.5 to 4.9 hours. Rocky material is raining down onto the star, and showing up in the star's spectrum. The system was detected by the Kepler space telescope in its extended K2 mission. Though the system was not a target of interest, it was within the field of view of observing sessions, and analysis of the observed data revealed the system.[5][6][7][8]

The white dwarf is around 175 million years old.[9] The star included strong absorption lines due to magnesium, aluminium, silicon, calcium iron and nickel. These elements commonly found in rocky planets are polluting the surface of the star, and would normally be expected to mix trhough the star and disappear from view after a million years.[9]

An excess of infrared radiation indicates that there is a dusty disk with a temperature of 1,150 K (880 °C).[9]

References

{{cite web |url=http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=WD+1145%2B017 |title=WD 1145+017 |publisher=SIMBAD |accessdate=25 October 2015 }}</ref>

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "WD 1145+017". SIMBAD. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Christopher Crockett (21 October 2015). "White dwarf upsets planetary system, consumes evidence".
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Planet WD 1145+017 b". The Extrasolar Planet Encyclopedia. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Christine Pulliam (21 October 2015). "Cosmic "Death Star" is Destroying a Planet". Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. 2015–21.
  5. ↑ Ian O'Neill (21 October 2015). "Caught in the Act: White Dwarf is Killing a Planet". Discovery Channel.
  6. ↑ Michael D. Lemonick (21 October 2015). "Zombie Star Caught Feasting On Asteroids". National Geographic.
  7. ↑ "NASA’s Kepler K2 Mission Discovers Planet-Destroying White Dwarf Star". Sci-News.com. 22 October 2015.
  8. ↑ Camille M. Carlisle (26 October 2015). "White Dwarf Eats Mini Planet?". Sky and Telescope.
  9. 1 2 3 Bryce Croll, Paul A. Dalba, Andrew Vanderburg, Jason Eastman, Saul Rappaport, John DeVore, Allyson Bieryla, Philip S. Muirhead, Eunkyu Han, David W. Latham, Thomas G. Beatty, Robert A. Wittenmyer, Jason T. Wright, John Asher Johnson, Nate McCrady (8 October 2015). "Multiwavelength Transit Observations of the Candidate Disintegrating Planetesimals Orbiting WD 1145+017". arXiv:1510.06434v1.

Further reading

External links


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