Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site cbosgd.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!ihnp4!cbosgd!djb From: djb@cbosgd.UUCP (David J. Bryant) Newsgroups: net.space Subject: IRAS vs. "Death Star" Message-ID: <1098@cbosgd.UUCP> Date: Wed, 14-Mar-84 09:06:31 EST Article-I.D.: cbosgd.1098 Posted: Wed Mar 14 09:06:31 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 15-Mar-84 01:34:58 EST Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus Lines: 27 Thomas Statler's comments about IRAS being able to detect candidate "death star" objects brought to mind a recent article I read about the detection of "black dwarfs" in the general vicinity of the solar system. Since current theories indicate that black dwarfs should be fairly common, we might very well expect one to be nearby (this leads to wild speculation about a neighborhood black dwarf being "Planet X"). If so, how can we find it? A study done indicated that IRAS probably would not be able to detect any black dwarf stars, even a nearby one. The Space Telescope, on the other hand, with it's ability to see down to absolute magnitude +26.5, should pick out many of them, particularly any that are close. Still, we shall have to wait and see what other wonders come out of the IRAS data. * * David Bryant AT&T Bell Laboratories * Columbus, OH 43213 * (614) 860-4516 * . : djb@cbosgd.UUCP cbosgd!djb@Berkeley.ARPA * * ps: Is the plural of "black dwarf" supposed to be "black dwarves"?