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Are there any known planets that orbit around a white dwarf?

Clarice St.

Yes, there are known planets that orbit around a white dwarf! I am really fascinated by this topic and have done quite a bit of research on it recently. It turns out that these types of planets are actually fairly common in our galaxy.

White dwarfs are the remnants of a collapsed star that has exhausted all of its nuclear fuel. They are incredibly dense and have a very strong gravitational pull, which can influence nearby planets. Scientists have found evidence of planets orbiting around white dwarfs by observing the gravitational effects they have on the star itself.

The first confirmed discovery of a planet orbiting a white dwarf was in 2012, when astronomers discovered a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting around the white dwarf known as WD 1856+534. Since then, more than a dozen other planets have been discovered in orbit around white dwarfs. These planets come in a wide range of sizes and are located at varying distances from their host star.

One interesting thing about planets orbiting around white dwarfs is that they are likely the remnants of giant planets that were once located further out from the star. When the star ran out of fuel and expanded, it engulfed these giant planets and disrupted their orbits. However, some of these planets managed to survive the process and are now orbiting in close proximity to the white dwarf.

In addition to being fascinating objects in their own right, planets around white dwarfs also offer some insights into the evolution of planetary systems. They provide clues about what happens to planets as their host star ages and eventually dies. Studying these planets can help us understand more about the formation and evolution of planets in our own solar system and beyond.

Overall, I find the discovery of planets orbiting white dwarfs to be an incredibly exciting development in the field of astronomy. It is amazing to think that there may be entire planetary systems out there orbiting around these strange and dense remnants of dead stars. I look forward to see what new discoveries will be made in this area in the future!