A Stellar Necropolis:

the truth of how and why stars die

a report by:

Comm. R.M. Wey

COSR :SFS-SFC

It was long considered to be so common, the death of a star[ a big one would explode, a medium one…fade away], that research into such phenomenon was considered passé.

However, with the advances in optics for long range space telescopes, this opinion has changed. For a star begins to die when the last of its hydrogen fuel is consumed by its fusion furnace.

As the fuel is spent, the mass of the stellar body begins to collapse, and its temperature begins to rise. As the core begins to superheat, the helium within reaches flash point and ignites. This causes the outer layers to expand, forming a massive red giant.

These outer layers are slowly lost to the stellar wind, leaving behind the naked core. As this begins to expand, due to the rise in internal pressures, its gases collide with the slower[and cooler]gases that surround it. This phenomenon is referred to as planetary nebula.

In a period of approximately ten thousand years, the core[now left surrounded by a vast cloud of gas and dust, finally begins to cool and die.

One example of this phenomenon is NGC7027 and CRL2688. Photographs taken show a stellar body in its last moments before death; Yet at the same time, there are anomalies that raise more questions than they answer.

For example, observations made of NGC6826 have noted two red gas plumes [referred to as ‘fliers’ or ‘Fast Low-Ionization Emission Regions]that seem to defy conventional understanding.

Observations of other such stellar phenomenon[the ring nebula, etched hourglass nebula, and the helix nebula]suggest the existence of a companion star[or another heavy gravity object]which may account for the observed phenomenon. However, the existence of such is yet to be proven.

It is hoped[with the further advancement of deep space telescopics]that new evidence will be found to confirm the theories. Updates will follow as they become available.

The Bursting Pulsar

the newest star in the sky

a paper by:

Comm. R.M. Wey

COSR: SFS-SFC

A new stellar neighbor has found its way into the core of our galaxy; One which produces a signal more powerful than one hundred thousand G2V class stars.

Consisting of a red giant and a pulsar[also referred to as a neutron star], and referred to as a ‘Bursting Pulsar’, [GROJ1744-28] is at a distance of a mere twelve million miles apart[or one third the distance of Mercury to the sun]. They orbit one another every twelve days.

Now, according to conventional theory, this phenomenon shouldn’t exist at all, due to the nature of the two objects in question. Normally, a pulsars magnetic field is tremendously strong[some trillions times moreso than the earths.

However, a Bursters magnetic field isn’t sufficient to rein in the flow of hydrogen to its poles; So the influx of matter is dispersed over the entire surface. Though energy is released as such matter collides, such is dispersed so that the created x-rays are radiated outward in more than one direction.

Due to the lighter magnetic field, the accumulation of hydrogen gas on the surface continues until a state of ‘critical mass’ is reached. At that time, the accumulated hydrogen is converted into helium in one tremendous nuclear explosion. This sequence continues as long as hydrogen is ‘drawn off’ of its companion.