MIT News breed · Science

Astronomers observe a star slowly consuming a brown dwarf

Scientists have discovered a unique stellar system where a star is gradually consuming a brown dwarf, offering a new perspective on stellar-planetary interactions.

The system, ZTF J0440+2325, is 300 light-years away and shows a low-mass star slowly feeding on a brown dwarf. This process is expected to continue for billions of years.

Unlike rapid engulfment, this system exhibits slow consumption. The brown dwarf orbits its star every 87 minutes. The star is ~85 Jupiter masses, the brown dwarf ~25 Jupiter masses.

The discovery stemmed from unusual 'triangular' light curves detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility, differing from known celestial events.

Researchers initially puzzled over the light curve, which didn't match expected 'wobbles' from massive-light object interactions. A balanced, low-mass system was hypothesized.

Observations confirmed a small wobble, indicating a low-mass star with a brown dwarf. Material from the brown dwarf impacts the star, creating a 'fireball' that causes the triangular light pattern as it orbits.

The brown dwarf loses ~1/100,000 Earth mass yearly, a slow rate. This suggests slow accretion may be a common interaction between stars and planetary objects.

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