Hidden objects in the vicinity
Researchers have identified four so-called white dwarfs at a relatively short distance from the solar system. These extremely compact remains of former stars are typically easy to detect when they are isolated and not outshone by other celestial bodies.
- White dwarfs represent final stages of sun-like stars
- Red dwarfs rank among the most common stars in the Milky Way
- Visibility strongly depends on the companion's position
In the cases now examined, however, the dense stellar corpses were closely paired with red dwarfs. The fainter emission of the white dwarfs was completely drowned out by the bright appearance of their companions, so that direct observation using standard methods was not possible.
The discovery was achieved only through indirect detection techniques that objectively confirmed the presence of the invisible partners. Such systems provide important clues about how frequently compact objects occur in binary configurations and what role they play in stellar evolution.