Astronomers have discovered what could be a second-generation planet formed from material left behind by a dying star, marking what researchers say may be the first known example of such a planet orbiting a white dwarf.
The research, led by Jamie Williams, a PhD student at the University of Warwick, suggests that second-generation planets can form from material expelled when stars reach the end of their lives.
According to the researchers, the newly identified object could be the first planet of its kind found orbiting a white dwarf, the dense remnant left behind after a star similar to the Sun exhausts its nuclear fuel.
Williams said such planets are extremely rare and that finding one around a white dwarf was unexpected. The process can be compared to a planet being born from the remnants of the very star system in which it once existed.
Scientists had previously found evidence suggesting that possible second-generation, or “reborn,” planets may exist around pulsars, which are highly energetic remnants of dead stars.
However, researchers say this may be the first time evidence of such a planet has been identified around a white dwarf.
The discovery could provide new insights into how planetary systems evolve after their parent stars die. If further observations confirm the planet’s origin, scientists believe second-generation planets could be considerably more common throughout the universe than previously estimated.
Further observations will be needed to establish the object’s nature and confirm whether it was indeed formed from material expelled during the death of its parent star.