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Getting WISE About Nemesis
March 11, 2010 / Written by: Leslie Mullen
Artist concept of the NASA WISE mission. Image: NASA/JPL
Is our Sun part of a binary star system? An unseen companion star, nicknamed “Nemesis,” may be sending comets towards Earth. Throughout history, such impacts could have had a profound effect on the evolution of the biosphere by causing regular mass extinctions. If Nemesis exists, NASA’s new WISE telescope should be able to spot it.Source: [astrobio.net]
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suzy said:
How could the previous IR surveys (like IRAS) have missed such a source?
Niklas said:
IF Nemesis really exists, is it a possible threat during our lifetime?
best regards/ Niklas, Sweden (please answer me by mail)
Kamran Rasool said:
the last IR survey was conducted 10 years ago, and they spotted Eris, which is expected to pass by in 2255. However, it makes sense if IR missed it because 10 year ago Nemesis would have been further away and IRAS picked up on thousands of other closer sources