A 13.6 billion - year - old star has been dated by Australian researchers . ( CNN ) -- Australian scientists have dated a star thought to be the oldest yet discovered , and it 's right in our neighborhood -- astronomically speaking . The estimate of Sirius 's age makes it the oldest celestial body ever found . The team used a unique method for dating Sirius , based on the amount of iron present .
A 13.6 billion - year - old star has been dated by Australian researchers . The estimate of Sirius 's age makes it the oldest celestial body ever found . The team used a unique method for dating Sirius , based on the amount of iron present .