Space & Astronomy

General relativity is proven right once again

By T.K. Randall
July 5, 2018 ·  8 comments

This triple star system is quite unusual. Image Credit: NRAO/AUI/NSF; S. Dagnello According to Einstein's general theory of relativity, two objects will always fall at the same rate, regardless of how much they weigh or what they are made of.

Scientists have been able to prove that this is the case on Earth multiple times over the years, but how does the theory hold up when we substitute small test objects for super-dense stars ?

In a recent study, an international team of astronomers used several powerful telescopes to observe PSR J0337+1715 - a triple star system located around 4,200 light years from Earth.What makes this particular solar system so intriguing is its unique configuration of a neutron star and white dwarf star orbiting around a second white dwarf star situated slightly further away.

If Einstein's theory is correct, the incredibly dense neutron star and the inner white dwarf star should both be falling at the same rate towards the outer white dwarf star.

After extensive observations of the system, astronomers have determined that this is indeed the case.

Einstein, it turns out, was right all along.

Source: Astronomy Now | Comments (8)

Tags: Einstein, Relativity