[SCIENCE] Earth university seeks out ancient star

[SCIENCE] Earth university seeks out ancient star

(Bhubaneswar, India region, Earth)

National Institute of Science Education and Research of Bhubaneswar has begun a public campaign to solicit funding for a space expedition to one of the oldest known stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

Star number 140283 on the Earth Henry Draper catalogue or Methuselah star was added to the catalogue between years 1918 and 1924 Earth Calendar, but its significance became apparent only after more precise instruments enabled proper measurements decades later. The star's age has been narrowed down to second generation of stars born after beginning of the universe, some 13 billion years ago.

The Institute's astrophysics department has begun to draft a flight route to Methuselah star which lies only 190 light-years away from Sol, a dozen and an half day's trip one way if traveled in a straight line. Institute officials have stated that other universities are welcome to join them should they help to cover the costs for chartering a long-range vessel for the expedition.