"Astronomers Uncover Ancient 'Old Smokers' and Erupting Protostars in the Milky Way"
TL;DR
Astronomers using the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope (VISTA) have discovered 32 erupting protostars, experiencing rapid brightness increases within the disk of matter surrounding them, potentially affecting planet formation. Additionally, a new type of red giant star, known as "old smokers," has been found in the center of our galaxy, casting off clouds of dust that temporarily obscure the star and then re-brighten, potentially changing our understanding of heavy element release into the galaxy.
Topics:scienceastronomy#astronomy#erupting-protostars#galactic-center#hidden-stars#infrared-sky-survey#red-giant-stars
- Astronomers See a New Type of Hidden Star For The First Time ScienceAlert
- 'Old smokers': Strange new type of star discovered in Milky Way Phys.org
- Hidden star discovery reveals 'old smokers' and 'screaming' newborns Space.com
- New Types of Stars – “Old Smokers” and Erupting Protostars – Discovered in the Milky Way SciTechDaily
- ‘Old smokers’: astronomers discover giant ancient stars in Milky Way The Guardian
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on ScienceAlert