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An extremely primitive star in the Galactic halo

Author

Listed:
  • Elisabetta Caffau

    (Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg, Landessternwarte, Königstuhl 12
    GEPI, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Place Jules Janssen)

  • Piercarlo Bonifacio

    (GEPI, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Place Jules Janssen)

  • Patrick François

    (GEPI, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Place Jules Janssen
    UPJV, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 33 Rue St Leu)

  • Luca Sbordone

    (Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg, Landessternwarte, Königstuhl 12
    GEPI, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Place Jules Janssen
    Max-Planck Institut für Astrophysik, Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 1)

  • Lorenzo Monaco

    (European Southern Observatory, Casilla 19001)

  • Monique Spite

    (GEPI, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Place Jules Janssen)

  • François Spite

    (GEPI, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Place Jules Janssen)

  • Hans-G. Ludwig

    (Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg, Landessternwarte, Königstuhl 12
    GEPI, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Place Jules Janssen)

  • Roger Cayrel

    (GEPI, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Place Jules Janssen)

  • Simone Zaggia

    (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5)

  • François Hammer

    (GEPI, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Place Jules Janssen)

  • Sofia Randich

    (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5)

  • Paolo Molaro

    (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via Tiepolo 11)

  • Vanessa Hill

    (Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Cassiopée, Boulevard de l'Observatoire)

Abstract

A primitive star in the Galactic halo For theoretical reasons and because of an apparent absence of stars with low metallicities (abundance of elements heavier than helium), it has been suggested that low-mass stars cannot form until the interstellar medium has been enriched above a critical value of metallicity, Z, estimated as lying between 1.5 × 10−8 and 1.5 × 10−6. Caffau et al. now describe a star with a primordial-type composition, suggesting that, in fact, long-lived low-mass stars can form when the concentration of complex nuclei is low. The star is in the Galactic halo, has very low metallicity (Z ≤ 6.9 × 10−7) and no enrichment of carbon, nitrogen or oxygen. Its chemical composition should provide clues as to how the first stars formed.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabetta Caffau & Piercarlo Bonifacio & Patrick François & Luca Sbordone & Lorenzo Monaco & Monique Spite & François Spite & Hans-G. Ludwig & Roger Cayrel & Simone Zaggia & François Hammer & Sofia R, 2011. "An extremely primitive star in the Galactic halo," Nature, Nature, vol. 477(7362), pages 67-69, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:477:y:2011:i:7362:d:10.1038_nature10377
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10377
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