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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Photo: "Blue Straggler" Stars Cannibalize to Stay Young


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The core of globular cluster 47 Tucanae contains a number of "blue stragglers"—older stars that glow with the blue light normally seen from young stars (above, circled in yellow).

In January 2008 astronomers announced that these blue stragglers are likely members of binary star pairs and are maintaining the appearance of youth by cannibalizing their partners.

Image courtesy NASA-GSFC