Origin of Unexpected Differences in Giant Binary Stars Revealed | Gemini South

Origin of Unexpected Differences in Giant Binary Stars Revealed | Gemini South

Cosmoview Episode 80: Using the Gemini South telescope a team of astronomers have confirmed for the first time that differences in binary stars’ composition can originate from chemical variations in the cloud of stellar material from which they formed. The results help explain why stars born from the same molecular cloud can possess different chemical composition and host different planetary systems, as well as pose challenges to current stellar and planet formation models. It is estimated that up to 85% of stars exist in binary star systems, some even in systems with three or more stars.

"By showing for the first time that primordial differences really are present and responsible for differences between twin stars, we show that star and planet formation could be more complex than initially thought,” said Carlos Saffe of the Institute of Astronomical, Earth and Space Sciences (ICATE-CONICET) in Argentina who leads the research team. “The Universe loves diversity!”

This research was presented in a paper accepted in Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters. 

DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202449263

Video Credit:

Images and Videos: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/ESO/L. Calçada/International Gemini Observatory/Kwon O Chul/CTIO/N. Smith (University of Minnesota)/J. da Silva (Spaceengine)/M. Zamani/N. Bartmann

Duration: 1 minute, 18 seconds

Release Date: May 8, 2024

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