Astronomers find diamond in the sky
Nando.net
Sunday January 31, 1999

LONDON (May 17, 1998 00:03 a.m. EDT http://www.nando.net) - U.S. astronomers think they have discovered a diamond the size of a planet, the Sunday Times reported.

A star prosaically identified as BPM37093, located 17 light years from earth in the constellation of Centaurus, has a diameter of 8,000 miles and a massive density -- a teaspoon of its substance would weigh a ton, the paper said.

"We think that BPM37093 is primarily made up of carbon and oxygen in a crystalized state," astronomer Steve Kawaler was quoted as saying.

"That would make it a diamond with a blue-green tint. This truly could be a diamond in the sky."

Scientists also think the new star, with a surface temperature of 12,000 degrees celcius and estimated to be between 11 billion and 12 billion years old, will help them determine the age of the Milky Way.

"This finding will extend the lower limit of the age of the Milky Way and, in turn, extend the estimated age of the universe," Kawaler said.