New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 9, 2023 12:53 IST
In a recent turn of events, astronomers have discovered that the white dwarf star WD 0810-353, previously predicted to collide with our Solar System in approximately 29,000 years, is not heading our way after all.
This revelation comes as a relief to humanity, as such an encounter could have had catastrophic consequences.
The white dwarf WD 0810-353 is a dense stellar remnant, the final evolutionary stage of a Sun-like star. Last year, researchers using the Gaia space telescope predicted that this rogue star was on a collision course with our Solar System.
However, new findings from the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) have debunked this prediction.
The initial calculations were based on the Gaia measurements, which suggested that WD 0810-353 would come dangerously close to our Sun, within the Oort cloud, a shell of icy debris at the distant edge of the Solar System.
The Oort cloud is home to long-period comets, and any disturbance could potentially send these objects hurtling towards Earth.
However, the Gaia project overlooked a crucial factor: the unusually large magnetic field of WD 0810-353. Eva Villaver, an astronomer at the Astrobiology Center in Spain and co-author of the study, explains that magnetic fields are essential for understanding many physical aspects of a star, and neglecting them can lead to misinterpretations.
The team used the FOcal Reducer and low dispersion Spectrograph 2 (FORS2) instrument on the VLT to capture highly accurate spectra of the white dwarf. They found that the presence of a strong magnetic field can significantly affect the spectrum of a star, splitting its spectral lines into several ones and shifting them to other wavelengths.
By analysing the polarised light emitted by WD 0810-353, the team was able to model its magnetic field and determine its true trajectory and velocity.
Stefano Bagnulo, an astronomer at Armagh and co-author of the study, stated, “We found that the approach speed measured by the Gaia project is incorrect, and the close encounter predicted between WD0810-353 and the Sun is actually not going to happen. In fact, WD0810-353 may not even be moving towards the Sun at all.”
While this discovery averts a potential cosmic crisis, it also serves as a reminder of the lurking dangers in the vastness of space. As Bagnulo puts it, “that’s one less cosmic hazard we have to worry about!” However, it’s almost certain that our Solar System will encounter another star at some point in the future, and the effects of such an encounter remain unknown.
Shambhu Kumar is a science communicator, making complex scientific topics accessible to all. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
