Exoplanets Spotted Orbiting Dead Star

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Exoplanets Spotted Orbiting Dead Star

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday December 21, 2011 @09:51AM from the zombie-planet dept.

astroengine writes "Scientists have found a system of planets that appears to have survived being engulfed by their dying parent star. The discovery raises questions about the ultimate fate of our solar system when the sun runs out of hydrogen gas in about 5 billion years and violently transform into an expanding red giant star. Scientists believe all the planets from Earth inward will be destroyed when the sun expands, but new research suggests that if planets are large enough, they may outlast their parent star's death, even if they are engulfed."

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Oh come On. by drainbramage · 2011-12-21 09:59 · Score: 3

5 billion years from now that could be us!
Don't you want to know how it will end?

--
No brain, no pain.
1. Re:Oh come On. by niktemadur · 2011-12-21 18:34 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Five billion years from now... oh fuck it, I need a drink.
  Sobering up now, this "dead star" is really a white dwarf, isn't it?
  Time scales become truly mind-boggling when, after eons as a white dwarf, the nuclear reaction peters out, the "ember" still emitting heat for eons upon eons.
  If the proton decays, when the last white dwarf goes out, around 10^14 years from now, the Universe passes from the Stelliferous Era to the Degenerate Era, everything slowly cooling down, matter slowly disintegrating or being sucked into black holes, beyond the point when all free-floating matter has reached 1-to-1 odds of evaporating, roughly 10^40 years from now.
  If the proton decays, then the Universe enters the Black Hole Era, when there is no more matter to be sucked into singularities, so that they now begin the excruciatingly slow process of evaporating via Hawking Radiation. The last of the supermassive black holes will have evaporated by 10^100 from now. Then we enter a period of virtual infinity, named the Dark Era, the Universe inconceivably vast and empty and still accelerating.
  However, if the proton does NOT decay, circumstances and numbers become even more surreal/nasty, all stars NOT sucked into black holes reach 1-to-1 odds of becoming iron spheres at around 10^1500 years from now. That's right, all baryonic matter in the Universe will have frozen into an iron state. Finally, the last iron star will collapse into a neutron star or black hole at 10^10^76 (ten to the ten to the seventy six).
  And that's how thing will end and remain ended.
  
  --
  Lil' Thindime, lilting a lacrimose lament, krashes the kwaint konfines of Kokonino Kounty
2. Re:Oh come On. by FuturePerson · 2011-12-21 23:43 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  And that's how thing[s] will end and remain ended.
  That's not true, actually. You see, beyond the accelerating universe, by the time of the end of which you speak, we will have built ... "God", for lack of a better word. By that time, we have looked at each particle and each vibration of each string and determined where it came from and where it is going (yes, there's no random), allowing us to calculate everything back to before the big bang.
  Everything will be known - every path of every falling leaf anywhere in the universe, ever. Every action, every thought and every feeling of every creature that ever lived will be known, in effect raising everyone from the dead in a big collective consciousness beyond this universe and all the matter and energy in it. Thankfully there must have been a universe about around here before, because out there on the outside, was matter we could build our collective of. We need all the matter in this universe. We need to start it again, in the exact same way it once started. Everything in this universe will all happen exactly as it happened and is happening and will happen once more.
  Why we need to do that? I'll get into that later, unless I've all ready mentioned it before. But now I have to go. These are very hectic days for this weary "time-traveler". My adventures on this earth at this point in history are not that important. They are dwarfed by the cosmic storyline, but they might be an amusing read if I get time to write about them.
  Do good. You will reap the benefits later.
  Sincerelly,
  Future Person
  
  --
  (Or did I dream it?)
3. Re:Oh come On. by Gr8Apes · 2011-12-22 02:58 · Score: 1
  
  And that's how thing[s] will end and remain ended.
  That's not true, actually. You see, beyond the accelerating universe, by the time of the end of which you speak, we will have built ... "God", for lack of a better word. B...
  The last question
  
  --
  The cesspool just got a check and balance.
4. Re:Oh come On. by Lord+Apathy · 2011-12-22 06:45 · Score: 1
  
  Errr.. I'll have what he is having. No, don't put it in a bag. I'll just smoke it here.
  
  --
  Supporting World Peace Through Nuclear Pacification
Define "Survive" in this context by bobcat7677 · 2011-12-21 10:02 · Score: 5, Insightful

So...your grave still exists on whats left of a scorched rock vs being completely destroyed leaving nothing but particles in space? Sounds WAY better!
1. Re:Define "Survive" in this context by ClioCJS · 2011-12-21 10:08 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  if you are an interstellar archaeologist, it definitely is better!
  
  --
  -Clio
  Karma: Bad (mostly from not giving a fuck)
  Blog: http://clintjcl.wordpress.com
2. Re:Define "Survive" in this context by twotacocombo · 2011-12-21 10:10 · Score: 1
  
  Sure, but who will come by to pick up the dead flowers and kick those pesky kids off the grounds after dark?
3. Re:Define "Survive" in this context by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-21 10:15 · Score: 1
  
  This is great news in case it takes billions of years for the zombie apocalypse to finally happen. I don't want to miss out on the fun!
4. Re:Define "Survive" in this context by bobcat7677 · 2011-12-21 10:16 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  TFA mentioned the planets had lost significant portions of their mass to the intense heat. I doubt there would be anything left for an archaeologist to look at.
5. Re:Define "Survive" in this context by ClioCJS · 2011-12-21 10:24 · Score: 1
  
  So will my grave still exist on whats left on a scorched rock -- or not? You seem to want to have it both ways. Seems like you switched specifically to disagree with me. I used this to illustrate to "having it both ways" to my wife, who uses this tactic all too often ;)
  
  --
  -Clio
  Karma: Bad (mostly from not giving a fuck)
  Blog: http://clintjcl.wordpress.com
6. Re:Define "Survive" in this context by mister_playboy · 2011-12-21 10:51 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I would say your grave doesn't still exist on the remaining scorched rock, which I assume is the core of the planet. Your grave would have evaporated along with the outer layers of the former surface.
  Unless you have a really deep grave, anyway. :)
  
  --
  Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law ::: Love is the law, love under will
7. Re:Define "Survive" in this context by Arancaytar · 2011-12-21 14:47 · Score: 1
  
  The expansion phase is extremely short on those time scales. A star will typically remain a red giant for a few million years. Its surface temperature at that time will be only around 5000K, which is hot enough to evaporate the planet eventually, but not by orders of magnitude. The red giant has low density, so the heat exchange takes longer.
  All in all, it's not inconceivable that a planet's core might remain intact if it's on the very edge of expansion.
8. Re:Define "Survive" in this context by SecurityGuy · 2011-12-21 16:05 · Score: 1
  
  if it was hot enough to evaporate the surface surely it should be hot enough to evaporate all of the planet.
  Rather like saying if a stove is hot enough to evaporate some of a pot of water it will evaporate all of it. Clearly not true.
  
  Also if the planet loses mass wouldn't it move?
  No. However as the star loses mass, it's gravity decreases and THAT causes the planet to spiral outward a bit. That's expected to happen to earth, too, however not far enough that we'll escape crisping.
9. Re:Define "Survive" in this context by cerberusss · 2011-12-22 21:25 · Score: 1
  
  So...your grave still exists on whats left of a scorched rock
  Dig Up Yourself From Your GRAAAAAVE!!
  -- Children of Bodom, "Living Dead Beat"
  
  --
  8 of 13 people found this answer helpful. Did you?
So what they found out? by impaledsunset · 2011-12-21 10:08 · Score: 1

Did they find planets orbiting a white dwarf at orbits that would have been inside the red giant, did they find planets orbiting a red giant or did they find planets orbiting inside the red giant? Is the star dead or dying? TFA doesn't seem to say anything about the former, and conflicts with TFS about the latter.
1. Re:So what they found out? by berzerke · 2011-12-21 11:13 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  ...Is the star dead or dying?
  I read it as the star was dying and it engulfed the planets. Now the star is dead and shrunk back down, and they found some planets are still there.
Only 6 billion years left? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-21 10:09 · Score: 3, Funny

But... I was hoping humanity would still be around to see the copyrights to "Steamboat Willy" expire!
1. Re:Only 6 billion years left? by MightyMartian · 2011-12-21 14:04 · Score: 2
  
  I'm afraid you will have to wait for the heat death of the Universe. Perhaps when protons start decaying...
  
  --
  The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
*dons his asbestos suit* by White+Flame · 2011-12-21 10:14 · Score: 1

It's sure been a long time since I've used/seen $TITLE in online conversation.
Re:See Star Trek TNG episode... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-12-21 10:14 · Score: 1

The only time humanity managed to leave LEO was funded by "stealing from the productive".
Sun by Mister+Liberty · 2011-12-21 10:14 · Score: 3, Funny

I'd love to Sun expand again, and devour Oracle.
1. Re:Sun by wierd_w · 2011-12-21 10:19 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Unfortunately, Larry Ellison's planet sized ego would survive, much like these burnt out planets the article mentions.
  Only the burnt out planets didn't have golden parachutes.
  Larry Ellison does.
2. Re:Sun by networkBoy · 2011-12-21 11:48 · Score: 2
  
  Which we know he will use as a solar sail to outrun the expanding sun. The sheer massiveness of his ego will contain enough atmosphere for the journey to the next planet that he can host Oracle on.
  -nB
  
  --
  whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
CCDs! by instagib · 2011-12-21 10:23 · Score: 4, Funny

First a story about a comet flying through the sun unharmed. Now a story about planets surviving an expanding sun. Clearly a new PR strategy of the Climate Change Deniers (tm) !
1. Re:CCDs! by wierd_w · 2011-12-21 10:33 · Score: 2
  
  Not good enough though.
  NSIDC predicts that by 2025 arctic tundra will turn from carbon sink to carbon emmision source.
  Yay for violent methane release! Better fill up that hummer! You're gonna need the gas considering how hard your AC is gonna be working.
2. Re:CCDs! by KeensMustard · 2011-12-21 12:19 · Score: 1
  
  Makes as much sense as their current gob-smackingly moronic theories...
3. Re:CCDs! by ThePeices · 2011-12-21 13:35 · Score: 1
  
  Yes? You called?
4. Re:CCDs! by RancidPeanutOil · 2011-12-21 18:06 · Score: 1
  
  And it will swing back around to hilarious again in 3... 2... 1...
Re:5 billion years from now by ackthpt · 2011-12-21 10:34 · Score: 4, Interesting

Who the *beep* cares? Seriously....
Because probability dictates a good chance of a Futurama-like world will exist sometime during that span. If you want to be a part get started on your own stasis chamber, now. Don't forget to take a pizza with you, so you'll have something to eat when you emerge.
In the meanwhile, I'm more worried about the survivors of those dead worlds, who are on their way here.

--

A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Re:See Star Trek TNG episode... by fahrbot-bot · 2011-12-21 10:35 · Score: 4, Insightful

What's wrong with focusing on fixing this planet first?

Nothing, except many of its inhabitants are short-sighted, selfish, petty, nimrods, who only care about themselves and what effects them directly, and they are, to a great extent, the ones in charge/power making decisions that affect the rest.

--
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Re:5 billion years from now by geekoid · 2011-12-21 10:40 · Score: 1

I do.

--
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
Re:5 billion years from now by geekoid · 2011-12-21 10:42 · Score: 5, Funny

I can't wait for them to get here. I bet they're tasty.

--
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
Re:5 billion years from now by thej1nx · 2011-12-21 10:59 · Score: 5, Funny

>>In the meanwhile, I'm more worried about the survivors of those dead worlds, who are on their way here.

That is perfectly okay. They will land a job in a newspaper somewhere...and wear their underwear outside their pants!
Re:See Star Trek TNG episode... by SpanglerIsAGod · 2011-12-21 11:16 · Score: 1

Which is interesting since Start Trek is the epitome of socialism.

--
War doesn't show who is right - just who is left.
Re:5 billion years from now by mrops · 2011-12-21 11:26 · Score: 1

Ummmm.... Well done. Just like I do my stake.
Re:5 billion years from now by hrimhari · 2011-12-21 12:07 · Score: 1

In my case, I was wondering if somebody would mention if the lack of a "permanent" energy source like the Sun would spell the death of our planet anyway, if the dying, expanding Sun didn't get rid of it first after all.

--
http://dilbert.com/2010-12-13
Re:So... you do agree... by mister_playboy · 2011-12-21 12:25 · Score: 2

I'm sorry, but giving something like only 2000 years as a timescale for the Earth becoming "uninhabitable by life as we know it" due just to increases in solar output is just wildly inaccurate. The Sun is not changing that fast.
I'd say 100 million years is about a short as you can credibly go, and obviously life will evolve during that time. The real killer would be the point at which liquid water can no longer exist on the surface, and that's more like a billion years in the future.

--
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law ::: Love is the law, love under will
Re:5 billion years from now by DiogoBiazus · 2011-12-21 13:04 · Score: 2

That is perfectly okay. They will land a job in a newspaper somewhere...and wear their underwear outside their pants!
As a former resident of an exoplanet I must protest. This is an stereotype created by pop culture, not all aliens wear their underwear outside their pants, you insensitive clod!
It comes down to one thing by jslarve · 2011-12-21 13:17 · Score: 1

Climate change is b**ch!
Dead Star? by Shadyman · 2011-12-21 15:53 · Score: 1

That's no moon!
Re:See Star Trek TNG episode... by RancidPeanutOil · 2011-12-21 18:04 · Score: 1

Yes, that is correct. It was either one, or the other, - space exploration or socialism - and we have made our choice. Thanks a bunch, Obama! Now our children will be engulfed in plasma...
It does not matter in the long run by aepervius · 2011-12-21 20:41 · Score: 2

In 800 million year to 1 billion year the sun luminosity will have increased so much as to make existence of life and even water in liquid form a rarity on earth, baring complete extinction.

As for those purporting we should think about earth extinguishing and prepare the way for a futurama like civilisation :
1) we aren't able to even get agreement on something as simple as CO2 and GCC which is a threat *now*
2) we are still eating oil like tehre is no tomorow. And the way I see it : there won't be, because if we don't find an alternative source like fusion, our age of tech will *end* and there won't be another one *ever* (too much research depend on plentyful energy , so to regain back what we had, would be next to impossible)

--
C. Sagan : A demon haunted world:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345409469/
visit randi.org
1. Re:It does not matter in the long run by Coren22 · 2011-12-28 08:31 · Score: 1
  
  Perhaps if we could dump the anti nuclear nuts, and start building new plants, fossil fuels would be less of an issue?
  
  --
  APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
Re:5 billion years from now by cstacy · 2011-12-21 21:30 · Score: 1

I can't wait for them to get here. I bet they're tasty.
You did notice that McDonalds latest item is McPopplers, right?
Re:So... you do agree... by Neil+Boekend · 2011-12-21 22:05 · Score: 1

There is another reason why earth may become unhabitable due to heat within this timeframe.

--
Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
Re:5 billion years from now by xhawkx · 2011-12-22 01:51 · Score: 1

You are much too funny...................I betcha when searching for exo's, popping into veiw will be an un-organic vehical with a smiley face flag and the "Flintstones" theme song being broadcast.
Many Bothans Died to Bring Us this Information by luis_a_espinal · 2011-12-22 02:52 · Score: 1

Exoplanets Spotted Orbiting Dead Star
Wait till Emperor Palpatine finds out. Grand Moff Tarkin is gonna blow them the fuck off the spatial plane for orbiting too close to their security perimeter.
I've always wondered ... by Bobtree · 2011-12-22 04:25 · Score: 1

Will the surface of the Earth be completely replaced, and if so how many times, before the Sun explodes?
Estimates for the Sun's lifetime are very common, but I've never seen lifetime numbers for the Earth's surface based on plate tectonics, mid-ocean rift spreading, and other crust replacement factors.
Re:See Star Trek TNG episode... by jeff4747 · 2011-12-22 08:31 · Score: 1

You do realize that humans in the Star Trek universe live in a 100% socialist society, right?