Simulating the scene of a new planet being created during the process of a dying star.
Photo: University of Warwick
The object in question is most likely a giant gas planet orbiting a white dwarf star called HS 0209+0832, located about 270 light-years from Earth, according to a report published in the journal Nature Astronomy .
After analyzing observations from NASA's space telescopes and other instruments, the research team found chemical evidence suggesting the planet may have condensed from material released during the process of its central star running out of energy and collapsing into a white dwarf. Therefore, they named it a "phoenix" planet.
When a star like the sun enters its final stage, it first rapidly swells into a red giant, then sheds its outer layers of matter, leaving behind a dense, hot core known as a white dwarf.
Some early-generation planets, those that formed at the same time as their star, may survive this event if they are far enough away. Astronomers have observed numerous such cases.
However, to date, no second-generation planets have been recorded. These are planets born from the remnants of a dying star, according to the report's author, Jamie Williams, a PhD student at the University of Warwick (UK).
"What's interesting about planets orbiting white dwarfs at close range is that the central star in this case cools down over time, and the habitable zone remains incredibly stable. A second-generation planet could form and remain at a distance conducive to life for tens of billions of years," Williams said.
The report's authors added that such a prolonged period of stability could provide even more ideal conditions for life, but further research is needed to determine the specific state of the planet in question.