Astronomers find unique disc of debris around dead star | ESO

 Astronomers find unique disc of debris around dead star | ESO

Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have found a unique disc of debris around the white dwarf J1328−1450—the dead core of a star similar to our Sun. The star is surrounded not by one but two discs of gas that are likely maintained by planetesimals that survived the star’s death. As these planetesimals orbit the star, they interact with dust grains around the star, releasing gas that ends up arranged in two discs. This video summarizes the discovery.

Learn more about ESO's Very Large Telescope https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/

Credits: European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Directed by: Angelos Tsaousis, Martin Wallner
Editing: Esteban Pinto Lagos, Angelos Tsaousis
Written by: Ella Flynn, Magdalena Vukojevic
Footage and photos: ESO, Luis Calçada, Martin Kornmesser, ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/Benisty et al. Juan Beltran, Lars Lindberg Christensen, ESA/Hubble, ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)
Fact-checking: Paola Amico, Mariya Lyubenova
Duration: 1 minute, 21 seconds
Release Date: Oct. 27, 2026

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