To the astronomers out there – News about the ‘vampire star’ otherwise known as V445

[Jack]

A press release from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (18 Nov 2009 10:29, sorry I’m a bit late!)

It sounded so exciting I thought I just had to pass this on although it’s a bit over my head, probably 100s of light years over my head :duck:

One question though – are we going to die as a result of this?

Here’s the link, if you have to register let me know and I’ll find a way to let you see the rest. Bet you can hardly wait!

http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/0/CE9BC9F7B376F05C80257672003A8893?OpenDocument (http://www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/0/CE9BC9F7B376F05C80257672003A8893?OpenDocument)

Or a link within the full article is quite good. http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2009/pr-43-09.html (http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2009/pr-43-09.html)



Ticking Stellar Time Bomb Identified - Astronomers find Prime Suspect for a Type Ia Supernova

Using ESO’s Very Large Telescope and its ability to obtain images as sharp as if taken from space, astronomers have made the first time-lapse movie of an unusual shell of matter ejected by a "vampire star."

The ‘vampire star,’ known as V445 in the constellation of Puppis (‘the Stern’), has been gulping down gas from its close companion star eventually causing it to undergo a nova explosion, becoming 250 times brighter than before and ejecting a large quantity of matter into space.

This enabled a team of astronomers, including UK researchers from the Universities of Warwick and Manchester, to study V445 Puppis in great detail and determine the distance and intrinsic brightness of the outbursting object. The Science and Technology Facilities Council funds UK membership of ESO, allowing our astronomers access to its telescopes to carry out their research.

From the findings, in the 20 November edition of the Astrophysical Journal, it appears that this double star system is a prime candidate to be one of the long-sought progenitors of the exploding stars known as Type Ia supernovae, critical for studies of the mysterious dark energy.

[lapsedhibee]

it appears that this double star system is a prime candidate to be one of the long-sought progenitors of the exploding stars known as Type Ia supernovae, critical for studies of the mysterious dark energy.


:hmmm: Modern physics. Things in two places at once. Matter, anti-matter. Quarks, antiquarks. I often find myself wondering what would be the opposite of dark energy, and I always come up with the same answer - Amadou Konte. Does this make me a racist? :dunno:

[Ryan91]

The opposite of 'Dark' Engery would be Normal Energy (much like Matter is opposite to 'Dark' Matter), to answer the question 'could we die from this?' I would have to say No won't die from this, at least not for at least 25,000 years but as it is expelling matter and not light, it could take maybe 4 times that at the very least

[Hibbyradge]

The opposite of 'Dark' Engery would be Normal Energy (much like Matter is opposite to 'Dark' Matter), to answer the question 'could we die from this?' I would have to say No won't die from this, at least not for at least 25,000 years but as it is expelling matter and not light, it could take maybe 4 times that at the very least

Source?

[BEEJ]

I would have to say No won't die from this, at least not for at least 25,000 years but as it is expelling matter and not light, it could take maybe 4 times that at the very least
By which time Hibs may even have won the Scottish Cup again .......


.... sorry, strayed on to the wrong Board. :greengrin

[Sylar]

The opposite of 'Dark' Engery would be Normal Energy (much like Matter is opposite to 'Dark' Matter), to answer the question 'could we die from this?' I would have to say No won't die from this, at least not for at least 25,000 years but as it is expelling matter and not light, it could take maybe 4 times that at the very least

I believe you mean anti-matter :wink:

I'd been waiting on the publication of the actual paper relating to V445 for a while, as we (my affiliated department) assisted on the computational modelling of Puppis due to our collaborations with Dr Tim O'Brien at Jodrell. I read it at the start of last month, before publication, and wasn't surprised at the discussions the model outputs have generated.

While the results and optical imagery from the paper are fascinating, there is nothing conclusive about the current status or statistical liklihood of a type Ia supernovae explosion actually occurring. The V445 is (like many other candidates) a combined Helium/White Dwarf binary sequence, meaning the development of the potential energy to cause an explosion is primitive, and subjective to various factors (the efficiency via which charged particles gather on the surface probably being one of them), before it can be confirmed as "imminent".

100,000 years worst case? That's almost a doomsday prophecy when you look at the numbers - you're talking 8 orders of magnitude from full development, to binary reaction, to release, THEN you can consider the travelling distance of the ejection.

The simulation outputs for the Puppis were variable, and a general model concensus was non existent, meaning there is much discussion to be had before scientists try and provide this as evidence for dark matter and an avenue of galactic destruction.

The near-infrared images which were captured using the VLT are pretty stunning, and present some interesting data for future analysis.

:wink:

[lapsedhibee]

I believe you mean anti-matter :wink:

I'd been waiting on the publication of the actual paper relating to V445 for a while, as we (my affiliated department) assisted on the computational modelling of Puppis due to our collaborations with Dr Tim O'Brien at Jodrell. I read it at the start of last month, before publication, and wasn't surprised at the discussions the model outputs have generated.

While the results and optical imagery from the paper are fascinating, there is nothing conclusive about the current status or statistical liklihood of a type Ia supernovae explosion actually occurring. The V445 is (like many other candidates) a combined Helium/White Dwarf binary sequence, meaning the development of the potential energy to cause an explosion is primitive, and subjective to various factors (the efficiency via which charged particles gather on the surface probably being one of them), before it can be confirmed as "imminent".

100,000 years worst case? That's almost a doomsday prophecy when you look at the numbers - you're talking 8 orders of magnitude from full development, to binary reaction, to release, THEN you can consider the travelling distance of the ejection.

The simulation outputs for the Puppis were variable, and a general model concensus was non existent, meaning there is much discussion to be had before scientists try and provide this as evidence for dark matter and an avenue of galactic destruction.

The near-infrared images which were captured using the VLT are pretty stunning, and present some interesting data for future analysis.

:wink:

Exactly my thoughts.