Farihi, J., Brinkworth, C. S., Gaensicke, B. T., Marsh, T. R., Girven, Jonathan, Hoard, D. W., Klein, B. and Koester, Detlev (2011) Possible signs of water and differentiation in a rocky exoplanetary body. The Astrophysical Journal, Vol.728 (No.1). article no.8. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/728/1/L8 ISSN 0004-637X.

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Abstract

Spitzer observations reveal the presence of warm debris from a tidally destroyed rocky and possibly icy planetary body orbiting the white dwarf GD 61. Ultraviolet and optical spectroscopy of the metal-contaminated stellar photosphere reveal traces of hydrogen, oxygen, magnesium, silicon, iron, and calcium. The nominal ratios of these elements indicate an excess of oxygen relative to that expected from rock-forming metal oxides, and thus it is possible that water was accreted together with the terrestrial-like debris. Iron is found to be deficient relative to magnesium and silicon, suggesting the material may have originated as the outer layers of a differentiated parent body, as is widely accepted for the Moon.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Circumstellar matter, Asteroids, Cosmic abundances, White dwarf stars
Journal or Publication Title:	The Astrophysical Journal
Publisher:	Institute of Physics Publishing, Inc.
ISSN:	0004-637X
Official Date:	10 February 2011
Dates:	Date Event 10 February 2011 Published
Volume:	Vol.728
Number:	No.1
Page Range:	article no.8
DOI:	10.1088/2041-8205/728/1/L8
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access

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