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    Citizen scientist finds ancient White Dwarf star encircled by Puzzling Rings

    February 24, 2019, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    illustration of white dwarf LSPM J0207+3331
    In this illustration, an asteroid (bottom left) breaks apart under the powerful gravity of LSPM J0207+3331, the oldest, coldest white dwarf known to be surrounded by a ring of dusty debris. Scientists think the system’s infrared signal is best explained by two distinct rings composed of dust supplied by crumbling asteroids.
    Credits: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Scott Wiessinger

    A volunteer working with the NASA-led Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project has found the oldest and coldest known white dwarf – an Earth-sized remnant of a Sun-like star that has died – ringed by dust and debris. Astronomers suspect this could be the first known white dwarf with multiple dust rings.

    The star, LSPM J0207+3331 or J0207 for short, is forcing researchers to reconsider models of planetary syst...

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