Astronomers discover first star that appears green
A study from the University of Warwick has identified the first star that would appear green to humans, alongside the reddest star ever recorded. These findings show that white dwarf stars can exhibit unexpected colors like purple, pink, and yellow due to their extreme density.
What happened
- Earlier
A study published in the journal RAS Techniques and Instruments reveals that white dwarfs can appear in colors other than orange, white, or blue [1], [2].
What you need to know
The green star, WD J1330+6435, is located about 284 light-years from Earth [1].
Its chartreuse color comes from an atmosphere enriched with sodium, lithium, and calcium [1], [2].
Other white dwarfs can look pink or purple if they are rich in carbon, or yellow if they contain debris from comets and asteroids [1], [2].
Colors were determined using computer models of human vision and stellar spectra, as no white dwarf is close enough to see directly [1], [2].
It is not confirmed if other green stars exist, though researchers believe this is the first one ever credibly reported [2].
Background
White dwarfs are the dense remains of stars similar to the sun after they die [1]. Traditionally, astronomers believed a star's color was determined solely by its temperature, with hotter stars appearing blue and cooler ones appearing orange [1], [2].
The discovery shows that extreme density can change this rule. In the coolest white dwarfs, atmospheres can be as dense as water, causing trace elements to interact with helium plasma and absorb light differently [1], [2].
Questions people ask
Can we see the green star in the night sky?
No, no white dwarf is close enough to be seen directly; the color was calculated using spectral data and vision models [1], [2].
Why is this star green instead of blue or orange?
Its high density allows elements like calcium and sodium to interact with helium plasma, shifting the light away from typical stellar colors [1], [2].
Where this came from
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