Bad news for fans of Star Trek: The planet Vulcan, Spock’s supposed home world, does not exist. The 2018 discovery turned out to be just an astronomical illusion, caused by the same activity of the star 40 Eridani A.
The signals observed in 2018 had made us think of the presence of a planet similar to Volcano, but new precision measurements have disproved this hypothesis. The Neid tool, used by NASA And National Science Foundation at the Observatory Kitt Peak in Arizonarevealed that the signals were actually due to flickers on the surface of the star, and not a planet.
The radial velocity method
The planet, called HD 26965 b or 40 Eridani A b, had been identified with the radial velocity method. This method measures changes in the star’s light caused by the gravitational influence of an orbiting planet. However, this technique is less effective for small planets such as the presumed HD 26965 b. Also the researchers who announced the discovery had been cautious, stating that the signals could be the result of changes on the surface of the star itself.
Goodbye to the planet Vulcan: thanks to the Neid instrument
The group of research led by the astronomer Abigail Burrows del Dartmouth College used the Neid tool to analyze signals at different lengths of wave. The results, published in The Astronomical Journal, confirmed that the signals did not come from a planet, but were generated by convection motions beneath the surface of the star and the presence of active regions or spots.
The disappointment is great for fans of Star Trekbut science is also made up of these moments: it is through the verification and improvement of observation techniques that builds knowledge.
Are you disappointed with this discovery or are you Anyway fascinated by wonders of astronomy? Tell us in the comments!
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