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Fastest (and Most Compact) Stellar Spinner Confirmed
gregg writes "HM Cancri has been confirmed as a binary system of two white dwarfs orbiting each other so closely that they complete one orbit every 5.4 minutes; they are separated by a mere 8 Earth diameters. 'These are the burnt-out cinders of stars such as our Sun, and contain a highly condensed form of helium, carbon and oxygen. The two white dwarfs in HM Cancri are so close together that mass is flowing from one star to the other. HM Cancri was first noticed as an X-ray source in 1999, showing a 5.4 minutes periodicity, but for a long time it has remained unclear whether this period also indicated the actual orbital period of the system. It was so short that astronomers were reluctant to accept the possibility without solid proof. '"
It was so short that astronomers were reluctant to accept the possibility without solid proof.
What about very hot, plasmatic proof?
i found red lint in my navel. BUT MY SWEATER IS BLUE!?!??!?!! WHY?????
Perhaps you have a binary star system in your navel, and the Doppler effect is inducing velocity variations in the spectral lines in the light between the lint and your eyes.
Is the lint changing colour every 5.4 minutes? Is your head 16,000 light years away from your head?
I think we should send in the University of Warwick to investigate.
Supersonic? Keep in mind that in space, no one can hear you... oh, nevermind.
The best use for this is obviously to install it on the wheels of a stellar El Dorado.
Is your head 16,000 light years away from your head?
Woah. You just blew my mind.
If you can't hear in space why is there a whooosh when the Enterprise goes by?
Spacecraft have sensors that pick up electromagnetic signatures of nearby spacecraft. These are connected to computers that transform sensor data into visualizations (graphics) and auralizations (sound effects) for the bridge crew. What you are hearing is a sound effect that represents a passing starship.