HD 172555
HD 172555 is a white-hot Type A7V star located relatively close by, 95 light years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Pavo. Spectrographic evidence indicates a relatively recent collision between two planet-sized bodies that destroyed the smaller of the two, which had been at least the size of the Moon, and severely damaged the larger one, which was at least the size of Mercury. Evidence of the collision was detected by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.
An artist's conception of a body about the size of the Moon slamming into a body the size of Mercury. As the bodies hit each other at speeds exceeding 10 km per second (about 22,400 mph), a huge flash of light is emitted, and their rocky surfaces are vaporized and melted, spraying hot matter everywhere. | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Pavo |
| Right ascension | 18h 45m 26.9011s |
| Declination | −64° 52′ 16.533″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.8 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | A5 IV/V, A7V (Hipparcos 2007 Catalogue) |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | 95.34 ± 1.86 ly (29.23 ± 0.57 pc) |
| Details | |
| Mass | 2.0 M☉ |
| Luminosity | 9.5 L☉ |
| Temperature | 8,000 K |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 175 km/s |
| Age | ~12, ~20 Myr |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
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