4U 0142+61
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| Observation data Epoch J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation (pronunciation) |
Cassiopeia |
| Right ascension | 01 46 22.41s |
| Declination | + 61° 45' 03.2" |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 25.62 |
| Characteristics | |
| B-V color index | 0.63 |
| Variable type | Suspected |
| Astrometry | |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: 26.58958 mas/yr Dec.: +61.75264 mas/yr |
| Details | |
| Luminosity | 0.63 L☉ |
| Rotation | 8.68832905 s |
| Age | ? years |
| Other designations | |
|
PSR J0146+61, 1RXS J014621.5+614509
|
|
4U 0142+61 is a magnetar at an approximate distance of 13,000 ly from Earth, located in the constellation Cassiopeia.
In an article published in Nature on April 6, 2006, Deepto Chakrabarty et al. of MIT revealed that a circumstellar disk was discovered around the pulsar. This may prove that pulsar planets are common around neutron stars. The debris disk is likely to be composed of mainly heavier metals. The star had undergone a supernova event approximately 100,000 years ago. The disk orbits about 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) away from the pulsar and probably contains about 10 Earth-masses of material
[edit] References
- Scientists crack mystery of planet formation (April 5, 2006) CNN
- Spitzer Sees New Planet Disk Around Dead Star (April 7, 2006) SpaceDaily
- Birth of 'Phoenix' Planets?
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