Sun's Companion Star: Nemesis Theory

In summary, there is a theory about a potential companion star to the Sun known as "Nemesis," but evidence for its existence is lacking. The idea originated from author Walter Cruttenden, but has since been disproven by scientific research. The concept of a small star causing mass extinctions on Earth has been debunked, and there is no observational data to support the existence of a companion star.
  • #1
scott1
350
1
I herd of a theory about red or brown dwarf that is a companion star with the Sun.I looked on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemesis_%28star%29" it doesn't too much about it.
Dose anyone know if there's been any stars that could possible Nemesis or if there's any evidnce of it's existence.
 
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  • #2
I believe this idea came from Walter Cruttenden (I think he was interviewed once on Coast to Coast AM):
http://www.loststarbook.com
For years we have heard that these are only myths, there was no Golden Age and precession is just a wobbling of the Earth’s axis. Now Lost Star of Myth and Time shows evidence the Ancients were not just weaving fanciful tales - science is on the verge of an amazing discovery - our Sun has a companion star carrying us through a great cycle of stellar influences. If true, it means the Ancients were right and our views of space and time and the history of civilization will never be the same. More than that, it would mean we are now at the dawn of a new age in human development and world conditions.
but I fell asleep during the interview so I really don't remember all that he had to say. Made a nice bedtime story, though!
 
  • #3
In terms of the original idea (a small star, or super-Jupiter, in a highly elliptical orbit, stirring up the Oort cloud and so creating mass extinction events here on Earth), it's dead - the periodicity in the fossil record is far from clear, there is no corresponding record of contemporaneous impacts on other solar system bodies, mass extinctions on Earth - with one notable, and possible two or three less notable, exceptions - cannot be tied to any impacts (by any of the usual measures), etc, etc, etc.

In terms of the observational data, it's pretty clear there are no red dwarfs close enough to be in any quasi-stable orbit, nor white dwarfs. Brown dwarfs are not yet fully ruled out, but the region of parameter space they could inhabit, undetected to date, is small.
 
  • #4
IRAS surveyed the entire sky in the IR and found no 'Nemesis' candidates. Deducing the existence of 'Nemesis' from the fossil record was a stab in the dark, and now rather convincingly ruled out.
 

What is the Sun's Companion Star: Nemesis Theory?

The Sun's Companion Star: Nemesis Theory is a scientific hypothesis that proposes the existence of a dark, companion star to the Sun. This star, also known as Nemesis, is believed to orbit the Sun at a very large distance and could potentially explain certain astronomical phenomena.

What evidence supports the Sun's Companion Star: Nemesis Theory?

The main evidence supporting this theory is based on the observation of mass extinctions on Earth occurring in regular intervals of about 26 million years. Some scientists suggest that these extinctions could be caused by the gravitational pull of Nemesis, disturbing the orbits of comets and sending them towards Earth.

Has Nemesis been observed or detected?

No, Nemesis has not been directly observed or detected. However, some indirect evidence has been found, such as irregularities in the orbits of comets and dwarf planets in the outer solar system, which could be explained by the presence of a large, distant object like Nemesis.

Is the Sun's Companion Star: Nemesis Theory widely accepted among scientists?

No, the Sun's Companion Star: Nemesis Theory is still a highly debated and controversial topic among scientists. While some research supports the existence of Nemesis, others argue that the observed phenomena can be explained by other factors.

What would be the implications if Nemesis does exist?

If Nemesis does exist, it could have significant implications for the study of our solar system and the understanding of mass extinctions on Earth. It could also potentially affect the orbits of other planets and objects in our solar system, leading to further scientific discoveries.

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