Discovery and Characteristics
's identified a "blue lurker," a rare star class with an unusual high spin rate, in the M67 star cluster, 2,800 light-years away. This star is slightly brighter and bluer than typical sun-like stars due to its tumultuous evolutionary history involving interaction in a triple-star system.
The blue lurker's rapid rotation, completing a spin in four days compared to the 30 days for normal sun-like stars, was attributed to material siphoned from a companion star, highlighting its unique evolutionary path.
Evolutionary Journey
The blue lurker's formation involved a complex evolutionary story, beginning with its orbit around a binary system of sun-like stars. A merger between these stars 500 million years ago led to the creation of a more massive star, which eventually transferred material to the blue lurker, accelerating its spin.
Hubble's ultraviolet spectroscopy revealed the blue lurker orbits a hot white dwarf, a remnant of the massive star's evolution. This white dwarf, with a temperature up to three times that of the Sun, is heavier than typical for its type, suggesting its origin in a previously three-star system.