Categories: uncategorized
Date: 17 February 2004 16:09:55
Imagine the grand canyon. Now think of that times five, think of it as a large sphere, and made out of diamond.
That's some rock! And it's been found 50 light years away in the core of a white dwarf (not the popular sci-comedy's spin-off, but a star in the last throes of existence).
This ten billion trillion trillion carat gem was discovered (and named "Lucy", as in "in the sky with diamonds") on Valentine's day in the Centaurus constellation. Apparently (and if you know anything about the jewellery trade you'll understand- to me it just sounds impressive) you would need a jeweller's loupe the size of the Sun to grade this precious, um, stone.
That's quite impressive when you compare it to the largest diamond found on Earth which was a (comparative) mere 3,106-carats. Parts of it are on display every time the Queen pays parliament a visit.