Binary stars evolving (IMAGE)

University of Toronto

Binary stars evolving

Caption

This artist's impression shows how hot, brilliant and high-mass stars evolve. The more massive brighter star expands first, until the outer layers start to strongly feel the gravitational pull of the companion. The companion then starts to suck material from the primary star. When the primary has been stripped from its entire hydrogen-rich envelope it shrinks.

Credit

Navid Marvi, courtesy of the Carnegie Institution for Science

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