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Discovery of second-generation Phoenix planet orbiting white
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2026-10-14 13:33 UTC → 2026-10-23 20:02 UTC ·
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Discovery of second-generation Phoenix planet orbiting white dwarf
Researchers from the University of Warwick have identified a second-generation planet orbiting the white dwarf HS 0209+0832. This discovery, published in Nature Astronomy, represents the first time such a celestial body has been confirmed orbiting a white dwarf, as previous observations were limited to pulsars. Spectral analysis of the star revealed an unusual atmospheric composition containing high concentrations of heavy metals like zinc, copper, and niobium, with niobium levels exceeding those of the Sun by a thousandfold. The near absence of iron suggests the planet may have formed from stellar ash rather than standard rock-forming elements. Earlier reports based on re-examined Hubble Space Telescope data initially identified the Astronomers have now dubbed this unique object as a ‘Phoenix planet.’ Unlike first-generation planets that form from initial protoplanetary disks, this planet candidate. Astronomers noted a repeating 4.4-day brightness cycle, suggesting appears to have formed from material ejected during the host star’s death throes as it transitioned from a red giant planet might be orbiting close enough to the a white dwarf to have its atmosphere stripped away. The findings provide insight into how planetary systems evolve following dwarf. Research led by Jamie Williams indicates that the collapse detection of niobium in the white dwarf’s environment marks the first time this specific element has been identified in such a star. system, supporting the theory that the planet was reborn from heavy elements produced during the star’s evolution.
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- 2026-10-23 20:02 UTC Discovery of second-generation Phoenix planet orbiting white
- 2026-10-14 13:33 UTC Discovery of second-generation planet orbiting white dwarf
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