Star Rips Exoplanet To Shreds With X-Rays

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday September 14, 2011 @09:31AM from the you-always-hurt-the-ones-you-love dept.

astroengine writes "Some relationships are doomed from the beginning, and the same can be said of some planetary systems. In the case of the star CoRoT-2a, some 880 light-years from Earth, it is quite literally ripping its orbiting exoplanet to shreds. Five million tons of material per second is being stripped from the closely orbiting world CoRoT-2b by powerful stellar X-rays. But it's OK, the destructive nature of this planetary system is mutual; CoRoT-2b's orbit is likely maintaining the high spin rate of the star, boosting magnetic activity, thus boosting the X-ray output."

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I heard by Dunbal · 2011-09-14 09:33 · Score: 5, Funny

There's a rumor going around that the Department of Homeland Security has ordered 10 of these, for the 10 busiest airports.

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Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
Old news by Anonymous Coward · 2011-09-14 09:55 · Score: 5, Funny

Old news. This happened 880 years ago.