Sign in to follow this  
master_q

"10 billion trillion trillion-carat diamond"

Recommended Posts

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

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
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

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this