Scientists have nicknamed these stars, which are red giants, because they have been seen “puffing” out clouds of gas.
Scientists have nicknamed the stars “old smokers” because they have been seen “puffing” out gas clouds.
They belong to the class of red giant stars, which are created when medium-sized stars, such as our Sun, reach the end of their hydrogen supply for nuclear fusion.
An international group of scientists headed by University of Hertfordshire Professor Philip Lucas found the “old smokers”.
Following a 10-year survey of the night sky that involved the infrared monitoring of nearly a billion stars, researchers made their groundbreaking discovery.
The research was done as a component of a lengthy study known as “VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea,” or VVV.
21 red stars with unclear brightness variations were discovered by researchers in the Milky Way’s center as part of their study.
Professor Lucas clarified, saying, “We weren’t sure if these 21 stars were protostars that were either recovering from a dip in brightness brought on by a disc or shell of dust in front of the star, or squalling newborns, if you will.
“A third option was that they were older giant stars throwing off matter in the late stages of their life, puffing out gas like old smokers.”
