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IRC+10216

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Definition

IRC+10216, also known by its variable star name CW Leonis, is a red giant star on the asymptotic giant branch with a carbon-rich atmospheric composition, i.e., the atmospheric abundance of carbon exceeds that of oxygen. It is probably the most nearby object of its kind, and it loses substantial amounts of matter from its surface. This stellar wind creates a dense circumstellar envelope which is rich in molecules and carbon dust. More than 80 different circumstellar molecular species have been detected, the majority being long, unsaturated, carbon chains of different types (incl. anions) and many of them being unique to the circumstellar medium.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Space Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Hans Olofsson

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  1. Hans Olofsson
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Correspondence to Hans Olofsson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Olofsson, H. (2014). IRC+10216. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1847-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1847-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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