Typically , astronomers observe the dimming of a ace whenever an exoplanet passes in front of it . But what could peradventure do a star to periodically increase its illuminance when an objective passes in front ? The resolution , say scientists , is a new confirm phenomenon known as “ self - lensing . ”
There ’s a binary system about 2,600 easy - years from here consisting of a Lord’s Day - like wiz and a white-hot nanus . Every 88 daytime , for a geological period of about 5 hour , the G - star ’s light increases by a constituent of 0.1 % .
The rationality , say physicists Ethan Kruse and Eric Agol from the University of Washington , is on report of an effect known as microlensing ( skill : KOI-3278 : A ego - Lensing Binary Star System ) . It ’s the same effect thatlets stargazer see massive celestial objects behind other tumid bodies , let in galaxies . This happens when massive bodies color space - time and crouch the way of life of ignitor travelling past them .
Some 40 year ago , a Swiss stargazer key out André Maeder predicted that a similar affair would happen when a obtuse aim passing in front of a star , a process he identify as self - lensing . Now , thanks to the observation made by Kruse and Agol , he ’s been proven right .
[ Nature News ]
Image : Eric Agol & NASA / SDO HMI science team .
AstronomyScience
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