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ScienceQuiet 7d · day 8

Astronomers find white dwarfs can glow pink, green and purple, not just white

A study of 152 nearby dying stars shows that atmospheric density and absorbed planetary debris can tint white dwarfs in unexpected colors, including the first known green star.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 7d ago4 pieces MastodonNewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • Most white dwarfs are genuinely white, but about 1 in 30 examined showed distinct colors like pink, green, or purple.
  • Atmospheric density—up to a million times denser than the sun's atmosphere—causes trace elements to absorb a wider range of light.
  • Material from destroyed asteroids and planets migrating into the dead star's atmosphere contributes to the coloration.
  • WD J1330+6435 is identified as the first known green star in the galaxy, colored by calcium, lithium, and sodium.

Study authors Astronomers, authors of the white dwarf color study

Astronomers find white dwarfs can glow pink, green and purple, not just white
Wired

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

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  1. background

    Survey finds roughly 1 in 30 white dwarfs unusually colored — Examining 152 white dwarfs within 65 light-years of Earth, the authors found only five with unusual coloration, including a salmon-pink star (WD J1011+2845) and a bubblegum-toned star (WD J902-2010).

  2. background

    Researchers identify WD J1330+6435 as first known green star — The white dwarf, enriched with calcium, lithium and sodium from its planetary system, displays a light chartreuse color, marking the first documented green star in the galaxy.

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