Did the Sun Have a Twin Star?

STATES CHRONICLE – A team of researchers from Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and from UC Berkeley came to the conclusion that our sun had a twin star. This applies to many similar stars in the universe. They think that, when these cosmic bodies are created, they also have a twin companion which is later destroyed.

Astronomers say stars are born with companions

Astronomers came up with several theories regarding the origin of these companions. One hypothesis claims that stars are born with a twin star, while another one says that one of the bodies is captured by the gravity of the other.

Also, they are wondering if it is possible for binary star systems to be split and to form individual systems afterwards. This is relevant not only to find out the origin of our own solar system, but can offer a perspective on the formation of galaxies.

With the help of computer-generated models, astronomers created simulations of gasses condensing into stars. This gave rise to the theory that each star is formed with a twin. However, evidence in favor of this was provided only after the release of the Perseus study.

The sun had a twin star, Nemesis

Astronomers presumed the sun had a twin star called Nemesis which, presumably, was responsible with the extinction of dinosaurs. Evidence was lacking, until this study came up and led researchers to believe that Nemesis was, indeed, real, but it drifted far away into the Milky Way and disappeared.

For the researchers, scientists performed a radio survey in the Perseus constellation and analyzed a molecular cloud around some young stars. This is strong evidence in support of the twin star hypothesis. However, these companions are situated quite far away from their twins. Therefore, Nemesis would have been situated somewhere much further away from the sun than Neptune.
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