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Planet destroyed by white dwarf, artwork C015 / 0781
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Planet destroyed by white dwarf, artwork C015 / 0781
Planet destroyed by white dwarf. Artwork of the white dwarf star GD 362 pulling apart a planet. The debris is being incorporated into Saturn-like rings. A white dwarf is a collapsed remnant of a star after it has run out of nuclear fuel and expanded into a red giant. This star is located around 150 lights years from Earth, in the constellation of Hercules. An account of the research supporting this scenario was published in 2009
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9241463
© LYNETTE COOK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
2009 Alien Planet Astrophysical Astrophysics Breaking Up Debris Destroyed Destroying Destruction Disintegrate Disintegrating Disintegration Exoplanet Extrasolar Planet Gravitation Gravity Hercules Orbiting Planetary Science Planetary System Ring Rings Rocky Planet Star Stellar Core Stellar Evolution Terrestrial Universe White Dwarf Tidal Forces
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This artwork, titled "Planet destroyed by white dwarf" showcases the destructive power of a white dwarf star known as GD 362. Located approximately 150 light years away from Earth in the constellation of Hercules, this stellar remnant has left behind a trail of devastation in its wake. The illustration vividly depicts the white dwarf tearing apart a terrestrial planet, with its immense gravity causing the planet to disintegrate into countless fragments. These debris are then incorporated into magnificent Saturn-like rings encircling the remnants of what was once a thriving world. White dwarfs are formed when stars exhaust their nuclear fuel and undergo gravitational collapse after expanding into red giants. In this case, GD 362's evolution led to it becoming an unstoppable force capable of annihilating entire planets within its orbit. Published research in 2009 supports this scenario, shedding light on the fascinating field of astrophysics and planetary science. The study explores how tidal forces exerted by the white dwarf can break up extrasolar planets and reshape entire planetary systems. Lynette Cook's mesmerizing artwork not only captures our imagination but also serves as a reminder of both the beauty and destructive nature that exists beyond our own celestial neighborhood. It invites us to contemplate the vastness and complexity of our universe while appreciating our own fragile existence amidst such cosmic wonders.
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