Topic: Research News
Astronomers have finally discovered what makes a bright star called gamma-Cas emit unusual X-rays. The answer is an unseen companion star that pulls in material from its larger neighbor.
The mystery of the bright star gamma-Cas has been solved after more than 50 years. Astronomers used new data from the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) to figure out what makes it emit unusual X-rays. The culprit is an unseen companion star that pulls in material from its larger neighbor, a process called accretion.
Gamma-Cas is a bright star that can be seen with the naked eye. It's part of the W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia, visible on clear nights across Europe. In 1866, Italian astronomer Angelo Secchi noticed something unusual in its light. Instead of showing a dark hydrogen line like the Sun, gamma-Cas displayed a bright one.
This unexpected feature led to the creation of a new category known as 'Be' stars, combining the
Implications
Astronomers have finally discovered what makes a bright star called gamma-Cas emit unusual X-rays. The answer is an unseen companion star that pulls in material from its larger neighbor.
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