Illustration: Ancient White Dwarf Star Encircled by a Mysterious Set of Dusty Rings (IMAGE)

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)

Illustration: Ancient White Dwarf Star Encircled by a Mysterious Set of Dusty Rings

Caption

The Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 citizen science project invites the public to join the search for cold worlds nearby the sun using its newly revamped online interface. The Backyard Worlds re-launch coincides with publication of the project's latest discovery: an ancient white dwarf star encircled by a mysterious set of dusty rings -- as illustrated in this artistically rendered composite image. NOAO scientist Aaron Meisner is a Backyard Worlds co-founder and science team member.

Credit

Image Credit: P. Marenfeld & NOAO/AURA/NSF, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Scott Wiessinger

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