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.