IIA astronomers find germanium in extreme helium star A980, a first for such stars
On 19 June 2025, the Department of Science and Technology said astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, Karnataka found germanium in the extreme helium star A980, an element never before seen in this class of star.
Summary
The Department of Science and Technology said on 19 June 2025 that astronomers from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru had found an unusually high amount of germanium in A980, an Extreme Helium (EHe) star in the Ophiuchus constellation about 25,800 light years away. Germanium had never before been observed in this type of star. Using the Hanle Echelle Spectrograph on the Himalayan Chandra Telescope in Ladakh, the team found that A980's spectrum resembled the known cool EHe star LS IV -14° 109. EHe stars are almost entirely helium and are thought to form when two white dwarfs merge.
Key facts
- Star
- A980, Extreme Helium star, Ophiuchus, ~25,800 light years
- Finding
- High germanium, a first for EHe stars
- Instrument
- Hanle Echelle Spectrograph, Himalayan Chandra Telescope, Ladakh
- Institute
- IIA Bengaluru (DST)
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Which element, never before observed in an Extreme Helium star, did IIA astronomers find in high amounts in the star A980 (reported June 2025)?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Germanium
PIB (DST): The star A980, an Extreme Helium star, carries a surprisingly high amount of germanium, a metallic element never before observed in this type of star.
Which telescope did IIA astronomers use, with the Hanle Echelle Spectrograph, to study the star A980?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Himalayan Chandra Telescope, Ladakh
PIB (DST): The answer is Himalayan Chandra Telescope, Ladakh: astronomers from IIA used the Hanle Echelle Spectrograph on this telescope.