Nova in Binary Star System HM Sagittae (Artist’s Concept) (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Nova in Binary Star System HM Sagittae (Artist’s Concept)

Caption

This artist’s concept shows the nova system HM Sagittae (HM Sge), where a white dwarf star is pulling material from its red giant companion. This forms a blazing hot disk around the dwarf, which can unpredictably undergo a spontaneous thermonuclear explosion as the infall of hydrogen from the red giant grows denser and reaches a tipping point. These fireworks between companion stars are fascinating to astronomers by yielding insights into the physics and dynamics of stellar evolution in binary systems.

Credit

NASA, ESA, Leah Hustak (STScI)

Usage Restrictions

No restrictions.

License

Public Domain

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