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Aug 12, 2023

ESA’s Gaia satellite spots ‘retired stars’ passing through young star-forming area

Posted by in categories: computing, physics, space

These waves can reach heights comparable to stacking three suns on top of each other.

Astronomers have discovered a strange star system with “monster” tidal waves breaking on one of its stars. Astrophysicists from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) developed new computer models to better understand the impact of huge surface waves.

The new models reveal “titanic waves” created by the tides of a smaller companion star to be repeatedly crashing on the colossal star in the system. This phenomenon has never been detected on a star, making it a significant discovery.


Mark Garlick.

It was previously considered that old, evolved stars do not interlope with young stars and their planetary systems.

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