ESA Hubble · Space

Hubble Data Reveals Potential Second-Generation Planet

Unusual chemical signatures in NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope data from 1999 have led to the identification of a potential second-generation planet orbiting a white dwarf star. This discovery suggests planets can form from stellar remnants, extending a star's life cycle.

Astronomers re-examined archival Hubble data of the white dwarf star HS 0209+0832, identifying high levels of niobium and other elements. These signatures, previously unexplained, are now believed to indicate a planet formed from material ejected during the star's death.

A second-generation planet forms around a stellar remnant from its cast-off material, unlike first-generation planets like Earth, which form from a star's initial birth material.

The presence of niobium, an element synthesized in dying stars, strongly suggests the planet formed from the star's "death throes." Researchers theorize that this material coalesced into a gas giant.

Observations from the FUSE mission confirmed the niobium signatures. NASA's TESS satellite detected brightness variations indicating a planet orbiting about 3.7 million miles from the white dwarf.

The candidate planet, estimated to be Jupiter-sized, is likely losing atmosphere due to the white dwarf's heat. However, it is expected to survive as the star eventually cools.

Further research is needed to understand the formation, prevalence, and evolution of these second-generation planets around dead stars.

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