What is a "death star" in astronomical terms?
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In astronomical terms, a “death star” typically refers to a supernova or a neutron star, representing the end stages of a massive star’s lifecycle. It is not to be confused with the fictional Star Wars structure.
The term “Death Star” has been used in astronomy to describe a few different things, including a moon, a hypothetical star, and a star devouring a planet:
Mimas, a moon of Saturn
In 1981, scientists noticed a resemblance between Mimas and the Death Star after the Voyager spacecraft flew past Saturn.
Nemesis, a hypothetical star
In 1984, scientists proposed that Nemesis, a dwarf star, was responsible for comets and asteroids being gravitationally forced towards Earth from the Oort cloud. The theory was an attempt to explain a pattern of mass extinctions in Earth’s history. However, recent astronomical surveys have found no evidence of Nemesis, though a 2017 study suggests it may have existed in the past.
A star devouring a planet
In 2020, astronomers discovered a sun-like star devouring a planet in the Milky Way’s disk. The star brightened by a factor of 100 over the course of a week, releasing hydrogen and dust.