WD 0032−317

WD 0032−317 is a low mass white dwarf star orbited by brown dwarf WD 0032−317 b. __TOC__ WD 0032−317 The white dwarf WD 0032−317 is located about 1,400 light years from Earth. WD 0032−317 formed about three billion years ago when a low mass star (possibly of 1.3 solar masses) expanded into its red giant phase. The star then blew out its outer layers leaving behind the helium-rich core (which is WD 0032−317).

WD 0032−317 b The orbiting brown dwarf, WD 0032−317 b, was massive enough to survive the red giant's nova event. It is an extremely hot and very large (75-88 Jupiter masses) brown dwarf that orbits WD 0032−317. One orbit from WD 0032−317 b takes only 2.5 hours. This object is tidally locked to its star with a day side temperature of and a night temperature of about making its temperature equivalent to a planet orbiting close to a late stage B-type star. The intense ultraviolet (UV) exposure can break down the molecules in WD 0032−317's atmosphere and vaporize materials from the surface of the brown dwarf.

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