Scientists discover a “green star” for the first time

Astronomers have identified a star whose colour would be perceived by the human eye as green for the first time.

TodayPress TV reports, citing CNN, that the findings were published in the journal RAS Techniques and Instruments.

The object is a white dwarf — the dense remnant of a dead star similar to the Sun. Scientists calculated its colour using spectral data, as the object cannot be observed directly from Earth.

Researchers studied 151 white dwarfs located within 65 light-years of Earth. According to the study’s lead author, astrophysicist Mark Hollands of the University of Warwick, the greenish hue of one of the stars is caused by the characteristics of its atmosphere, which contains calcium, sodium and lithium.

“Ordinary stars are generally orange, white or blue,” Hollands said.

The unusual colours of white dwarfs arise from interactions between helium and traces of other elements. Astronomers also identified a star that appears pink because of a high concentration of carbon molecules.

Hollands estimates that the new observations could increase tenfold the number of white dwarfs with available spectral data. This could help scientists discover other stars with unusual colours.