Astronomers say a white dwarf around 326 light-years away is the first known genuinely green star, after its atmosphere was altered by rocky material from a planetary companion.
01Summary
- 01The star WD J1330+6435, about 326 light-years away, is said to be the first known genuinely green star.
- 02Researchers found the white dwarf has been accreting rocky material, enriching its atmosphere with calcium, lithium and sodium.
- 03The team says sodium in the atmosphere absorbs orange light, leaving a ghostly green glow.
- 04Another white dwarf, WD J1011+2845, around 48 light-years from Earth, is described as the reddest star ever with a deep salmon-pink glow.
- 05The study examined 151 white dwarfs within around 65 light-years of Earth and suggested only one in 30 has an unusual colour.
02Why it matters
The finding suggests white dwarfs can show more varied colours than scientists expected, depending on their chemistry and what they have consumed. It also shows that some dead stars may still be interacting with planets and other debris long after a star’s death.
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