Anatomy of a white dwarf
1 White-hot atmosphere
White dwarfs are incredibly hot, hitting temperatures over 200,000 degrees Celsius (360,000 degrees Fahrenheit).
2 Centre of diamond
Under low temperatures and high pressures, the crust gives way to a crystalline lattice of carbon and oxygen atoms. This diamond structure is crystallised carbon.
3 A stellar crust
Below the atmosphere, a crust that’s around 50 kilometres (31 miles) thick is thought to exist in many white dwarfs.