djb@cbosgd.UUCP (David J. Bryant) (03/14/84)
Thomas Statler's comments about IRAS being able to detect candidate
"death star" objects brought to mind a recent article I read about
the detection of "black dwarfs" in the general vicinity of the solar
system. Since current theories indicate that black dwarfs should be
fairly common, we might very well expect one to be nearby (this leads
to wild speculation about a neighborhood black dwarf being "Planet X").
If so, how can we find it? A study done indicated that IRAS probably
would not be able to detect any black dwarf stars, even a nearby one.
The Space Telescope, on the other hand, with it's ability to see
down to absolute magnitude +26.5, should pick out many of them,
particularly any that are close.
Still, we shall have to wait and see what other wonders come out of
the IRAS data.
* *
David Bryant
AT&T Bell Laboratories
* Columbus, OH 43213
* (614) 860-4516
* .
: djb@cbosgd.UUCP
cbosgd!djb@Berkeley.ARPA
* *
ps: Is the plural of "black dwarf" supposed to be "black dwarves"?