* Astronomy

Title: Evidence for an Anhydrous Carbonaceous Extrasolar Minor Planet
Author: M. Jura, P. Dufour, S. Xu, B. Zuckerman, B. Klein, E. D. Young, C. Melis

Using Keck/HIRES, we report abundances of 11 different elements heavier than helium in the spectrum of Ton 345, a white dwarf that has accreted one of its own minor planets. This particular extrasolar planetesimal which was at least 60% as massive as Vesta appears to have been carbon-rich and water-poor; we suggest it was compositionally similar to those Kuiper Belt Objects with relatively little ice.

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Position (J2000): R.A. 08h 45m 39.17s | Dec. +22° 57' 28.2"