master_q 0 Posted February 14, 2004 Astronomers spy 10 billion trillion trillion-carat diamond The Associated Press Last Updated 3:06 p.m. PST Friday, February 13, 2004 LOS ANGELES (AP) - If anyone's ever promised you the sun, the moon and the stars, tell 'em you'll settle for BPM 37093.The heart of that burned-out star with the no-nonsense name is a sparkling diamond that weighs a staggering 10 billion trillion trillion carats. That's one followed by 34 zeros. The hunk of celestial bling is an estimated 2,500 miles across, said Travis Metcalfe, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. "You would need a jeweler's loupe the size of the sun to grade this diamond," said Metcalfe, who led the team that discovered the gem. The diamond is a massive chunk of crystallized carbon that lies about 300 trillion miles from Earth, in the constellation Centaurus. The galaxy's largest diamond is formally known as a white dwarf, or the hot core of a dead sun. Astronomers have suspected for decades that white dwarfs crystallized, but only recently were able to verify the hypothesis. A paper detailing the discovery has been submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters for publication. -- http://sacbee.com/state_wire/story/8260120p-9190734c.html (Thank the Drudge Report for providing the link) Master Q StarTrek_Master_Q@yahoo.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A l t e r E g o 9 Posted February 14, 2004 So THAT'S why we're returning to space, there's BIG money out there! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WEAREBORG4102 0 Posted February 14, 2004 That's huge!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goose 0 Posted February 15, 2004 Stardate:214123.9 Holy crap that is big.First one there gets it!!!!!! :jumpes on starship and takes off: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BakulaBabe 2 Posted February 15, 2004 Stardate:214123.9 Holy crap that is big.First one there gets it!!!!!! :jumpes on starship and takes off: *hiding in ship's cargo hold* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites