Astronomers from the University of Cambridge have discovered the smallest star in the universe, according to a study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics journal on Tuesday. Located around 600 light years away in the Milky Way galaxy, the star is called EBLM J0555-57Ab and is about the size of Saturn.
According to the astronomers, the star has just enough mass for the hydrogen fusion process –
the process in which two atoms of hydrogen combine to form an atom of helium, or energy.
“Our discovery reveals how small stars can be,” said Alexander von Boetticher, the lead author of the study and a graduate student at the University of Cambridge, according to USA Today.
Boetticher added that the star is probably colder than many of the gas giant exoplanets that have been identified. The gravitational pull at its surface is about 300 times stronger than that on earth.
The star is part of a binary system – it orbits a bigger star. It was identified when it passed in front of its much larger sun. Astronomers said that this method of detection is usually followed to identify planets, not stars.
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