Red Giant XX Trianguli Has Massive Starspots, Dubbed the ‘Most Spotted Star in the Sky’
A massive starspots were reported on the red giant star XX Trianguli, situated approximately 630 light-years away from Earth. These starspots, which exceed the total surface area of the sun, have earned the star recognition as the “most spotted star in the sky.” Reports indicate that these spots behave unpredictably, unlike the sun’s cyclical sunspots, hinting at more turbulent internal processes. As per sources, researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) and the HUN-REN Research Center for Astronomy and Earth Sciences (HUN-REN RCAES) conducted the study using AIP’s STELLA robotic telescope in Tenerife.
In a study published in Nature Communications on December 4, over 2,000 high-resolution spectra collected from 2006 to 2022 were analysed, enabling the creation of 99 time-series images depicting the progression of starspot activity on XX Trianguli’s surface.
Chaotic dynamo mechanism identified
According to Zsolt Kővári, co-author and researcher at HUN-REN RCAES, in a statement, the starspots arise due to the star’s internal dynamo mechanism, which generates magnetic fields. Speaking to media outlets, Kővári explained that the star’s brightness variations, caused by dark spots rotating in and out of view every 24 days, had been observed previously. He added that XX Trianguli’s magnetic dynamo appears chaotic and non-cyclic, differing fundamentally from the sun’s periodic activity.
Starspots alter star’s apparent position
The study further highlighted how these enormous starspots affect the star’s photocenter, or centre of light. Reports suggest the photocenter can shift by up to 10 percent of the star’s radius, causing a displacement of 24 micro-arcseconds. While minute, such deviations can result in measurable positional changes across interstellar distances.
The observations offer valuable data for understanding stellar magnetic activity and internal dynamics, positioning XX Trianguli as an extraordinary case for the study of starspots.
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NASA/ESA’s Hubble Space Telescope has released a striking new picture of the large galaxy cluster Abell 209, 2.8 billion light-years from us in the Cetus constellation. The enormous cluster contains over 100 galaxies held together by gravity, but what is seen is only half the tale. Underneath the shining galaxies is a tangled web of unseen scaffolding—hot, diffuse gas and a vast amount of dark matter. Although invisible, these elements define the universe through their gravitational pull. The strong lenses of Hubble enable scientists to study these invisible elements and the twisted spacetime that they create.
Technological advancement
According to NASA website, the new image was taken with Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Twelve exposures taken through different color filters were combined to make the full view. The final picture has a golden glow from dozens of bright elliptical galaxies clustering at the center, along with a few blue spiral galaxies at the edges. , Hubble avoids Earth’s blur to make distant galaxies appear pinpoint-sharp . In visible light, the largest galaxies appear as smooth golden orbs, while the spiral galaxies shine a faint blue. Hubble demonstrates a technological brilliance by merging optical and infrared data into one striking cosmic portrait.
Scientific revealations
Hubble scientists say images like this can help answer fundamental questions about dark matter and dark energy. The space between Abell 209’s galaxies is laced with X-ray–hot gas and dominated by dark matter. Only about 5% of the cosmos is ordinary matter; roughly 25% is dark matter and 70% is dark energy.
A massive cluster acts like a natural lens: its gravity slightly warps the light from more distant galaxies. In the Hubble image, a few faint background galaxies appear stretched into curved streaks. By measuring these distortions, scientists can map the cluster’s total mass (including dark matter). This lets them test theories about how the universe has grown under the influence of dark matter and dark energy
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In a village in Ladakh, there was experienced an eruption in the sky which turned the sky into red and green auroras on May 10, 2024. This has not been seen in the past 10 years. It got triggered by the fiery solar storm, called Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) which are magnetised and thrown from the Sun at a million km per hour distance. Such arruptions in masses, triggered by the filament eruptions and solar flames sped to millions of kilometer towards our planet. This kind of rare aura has been ignited from the fiery solar storm.
Indian Scientists Investigate
According to organiser, The indian scientists’ team, led by Dr. Wageesh Mishra, used the data from NASA, ESA and other ground facilities to find this auroral phenomenon at the Indian Astronomical Observatory, by applying the Flux Rope Internal State (FRIS) model in order to broaden the coronograph images. The evolving temperature, magnetic fields and structure of the Coronal Mass Ejections were mapped at the time of interplanetary journey. This is the first global study to chronicle CME thermal dynamics from the Sun to Earth, which is published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Unexpected Reheating of CMEs
In contrast to the expectations, the CMEs didn’t cool with their expansion. In fact, they heat up at their midway, absorbing heat and maintaining a constant temperature over time they impact Earth. This thermal restructuring is due to the collision of two CMEs, where the electrons release high temperatures and ions release mixed lower and higher temperatures predominantly.
Magnetic Collision Triggers Lights
Data from NASA’s Wind Spacecraft, when a solar storm reached Earth, shows that the plasma covered Earth in double flux ropes. These are twisted magnetic structures which can trigger potential geomagnetic disturbances. Such an entangled magnetic field brought auroras as far south. i.e. Ladakh, and produces a spectacular light show that was seen by the citizens of that place.
Global Impact and Research Breakthrough
This finding held significant implications for global space weather forecasting and India. Through the understanding of the interaction of CMEs’ thermal and magnetic changes, the scientists could better develop the early-warning systems for power grid issues, navigation outages and satellite disruptions.
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