Astronomers found a companion star getting close to Red Giant, which may alter its natural evolution

Red giant π¹ Gruis captured by the Very Large Telescope. (Image: ESO)

Astronomers have spotted a new companion near red giant π¹ Gruis. The companion orbits unusually close, altering the giant’s natural evolution. This discovery challenges existing models of star interactions in binaries.

Where and How It Was Found?

The finding comes from ALMA, a radio telescope array in Chile. Researchers analysed radio signals to detect the faint companion star. Red giants usually obscure close companions, making discoveries extremely difficult.

Who Made the Discovery?

An international team of astrophysicists led the research effort. They published their findings in Nature Astronomy journal recently. The team focused on stellar interactions in late-stage giant stars.

Meet the Red Giant π¹ Gruis

The star π¹ Gruis is a red giant in late life. It is an AGB star, huge and extremely luminous. Its size is 350–400 times the Sun, while mass is similar. The star glows with a reddish hue from cooler outer layers. It fuses helium in shells and sheds material through stellar wind. Astronomers study it to understand Sun-like stars’ future evolution.

Why This Study Matters?

The companion is a previously undetected star orbiting very close. Its orbit is nearly circular, which was unexpected for such systems. Its gravity disturbs the red giant, influencing mass loss and evolution.

Hence, it is a bad neighbour, affecting the star’s future fate. This study may also reveal impacts on surrounding planetary systems.

Orbit Reveals Unexpected Behaviour

The companion’s orbit is surprisingly circular, not highly elliptical. Scientists expected oval-shaped orbits due to gravitational interactions historically. Its orbit suggests faster-than-expected orbital evolution around the giant star.

The discovery refines predictions for red giant life cycles. It provides insights into binary systems and mass transfer processes. Understanding these interactions helps model the Sun’s distant future better.

Future Steps in Research

Astronomers aim to study similar red giants for companion effects. Future observations could clarify binary influence on planetary survival. This work highlights surprises still hiding in nearby stellar neighbourhoods.