High-resolution spectra obtained with three ground-based facilities and the Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) have been combined to produce a new abundance analysis of CS 22892-052 , an extremely metal-poor giant with large relative enhancements of neutron-capture elements .
A revised model stellar atmosphere has been derived with the aid of a large number of Fe-peak transitions , including both neutral and ionized species of six elements .
Several elements , including Mo , Lu , Au , Pt and Pb , have been detected for the first time in CS 22892-052 , and significant upper limits have been placed on the abundances of Ga , Ge , Cd , Sn , and U in this star .
In total , abundance measurements or upper limits have been determined for 57 elements , far more than previously possible .
New Be and Li detections in CS 22892-052 indicate that the abundances of both these elements are significantly depleted compared to unevolved main-sequence turnoff stars of similar metallicity .
Abundance comparisons show an excellent agreement between the heaviest n -capture elements ( Z \geq 56 ) and scaled solar system r -process abundances , confirming earlier results for CS 22892-052 and other metal-poor stars .
New theoretical r -process calculations also show good agreement with CS 22892-052 abundances as well as the solar r -process abundance components .
The abundances of lighter elements ( 40 \leq Z \leq 50 ) , however , deviate from the same scaled abundance curves that match the heavier elements , suggesting different synthesis conditions or sites for the low-mass and high-mass ends of the abundance distribution .
The detection of Th and the upper limit on the U abundance together imply a lower limit of 10.4 Gyr on the age of CS 22892-052 , quite consistent with the Th/Eu age estimate of 12.8 \pm \simeq 3 Gyr .
An average of several chronometric ratios yields an age 14.2 \pm \simeq 3 Gyr .