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Star Smaller Than Some Planets Found

Posted by Zonk on from the on-the-way-to-a-hole-in-space dept.

Abhishek writes "Astronomers have found the tiniest full-fledged star known, an object just 16 percent bigger than Jupiter. It is smaller than some known planets that orbit other stars. The star is a companion to a Sun-like star toward the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. It was found and measured by observing changes in the light output of the system when the smaller star passes in front of the larger star from our vantagepoint. This would give a better idea of brown dwarfs or failed stars. The star has been named OGLE-TR-122b. This discovery also marks the possibility of stars that look strikingly like planets."

15 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. that's no star... by HawkinsD · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's no star... That's a space station!

    --
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  2. They're only small stars by eclectro · · Score: 3, Funny

    until the Oscar awards.

    Thank you, I'm here all week.

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
    1. Re:They're only small stars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      There's a bus leaving in 30 minutes; you'd better be under it.

  3. Quadrupole-induced polarization? by Sheetrock · · Score: 4, Funny
    There is a possibility, albeit a small one, that an overload of the phase coupling relay reaction in a solar furnace (star) could trigger a non-catastrophic split.

    If a star is smaller than the conditions necessary for supernovae, and is struck with a star of the same size, you will end up with quadrupoles flying off in different directions. Needless to say this is rare, which makes this quite an exciting find!

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  4. That's so cool by Jugalator · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wow! Go, OGLE!

    I'm gonna register a website for that...

    No, wait... :-/

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  5. Re:Don't panic... by Evan+Meakyl · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is this going to happen in the next 5 years or what?
    Keep cool!

    Scientists predict that this will happen in 2010, because of a mysterious black monolith.

  6. Small enough to be portable... by drfishy · · Score: 2, Funny

    We should go get it. It's always good to have a backup...

  7. Re:Stars "looking" like planets ? by Fex303 · · Score: 3, Funny
    It is impossible to misinterpret an extremely hot stellar body with a relatively cool planet.

    I dunno... After a few drinks I've been known to think all kinds of things have hot bodies.

  8. Re:Stars "looking" like planets ? by AndroidCat · · Score: 2, Funny

    That should make defending cool planets in court a lot easier. "Beings of the court, my client is a peaceful cool planet, not a violent hot stellar body. If the spectra doesn't fit, you must acquit."

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  9. Re:Interesting... by LurkerXXX · · Score: 4, Funny
    Likely it was rebels fleeing from an Alliance Heavy Cruiser. As they were slingshoting around the larger star, they decided to launch one of their thermonuclear torpeados into the gas giant orbiting it, triggering the thermonuclear reaction that the proto-star was incapable of initiating on it's own. Luckily for the rebels the unexpected flood of radition from the new star was enough to temporarily blind the sensors of the Alliance Cruiser, allowing them to escape.

    But that's just my hunch.

  10. Re:Constellation by Lord+Pillage · · Score: 2, Funny

    Canis minor ;)

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  11. Re:Interesting... by Mr.+Bad+Example · · Score: 3, Funny

    > What might be the reason for this star burning when other similarly sized objects do not?

    Sheer impotent RAGE.

  12. Pesky monoliths at work again... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Clear it's evidence of those pesky monoliths at work again.

  13. Re:Aren't neutron stars "stars"? by LMCBoy · · Score: 2, Funny

    The intensive pressure at the surface plus the heat makes the H fuse.

    Well, that would be fusion *on* a neutron star, not *in* it. It's not just semantics; the process you are talking about does nothing to support the NS against gravity, since it's at the surface. The point is, a neutron star, by itself doesn't have any fusion.

    *sigh* So many people on slashdot who think they know everything.

    LOL, take it easy, man. I have a PhD in astrophysics, how about you? ;)

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  14. Planet-sized stars - a *new* discovery? by multipartmixed · · Score: 1, Funny

    > This discovery also marks the possibility of
    > stars that look strikingly like planets.

    We already have those.. examples include John Goodman and Roseanne Barr.

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