The death of binary star systems can simultaneously impress with its amazing beauty and scare their destructive power. Take, as an example, a double-star system R of Aquarius, consisting of a red giant is actively discharging its outer shell, which is absorbed very hungry by the companion star is much more compact but significantly more dense white dwarf. The images of this feast were obtained using the Very large telescope (VLT) the European southern Observatory in the framework of the SPHERE. On their observations, the astronomers shared in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Stellar cataclysm that can be seen in the pictures, is only 650 light years from Earth, in astronomical terms – just around the corner. That is why the event attracts the attention of scientists. Obtained using the VLT telescope image in near-infrared spectrum allow in all its glory to look at this phenomenon.
For comparison below is presented an image of the nebula Cederblad 211, which surrounds our “couple”. The image was obtained using the space telescope “Hubble”.
Some more pictures taken with “Wide angle camera 3” used the space telescope “Hubble”.
The pictures show a very rapid process. Red giant, called Mira and is related to the class of variable stars (their brightness changes depending on what is happening around the physical processes), are at the final stage of its life cycle. Such stars are by this time usually already lose half of its mass and pulsate very strongly, reaching a brightness 1,000 times more than the fury of the Sun.
Located close to the white dwarf, too, is on its last legs, but nevertheless absorbs matter from a nearby red giant. Accumulating on the surface of the material leads to thermonuclear reactions, accompanied by a powerful emission of matter into the surrounding space.
In the end the life of this binary star system will be completed powerful explosion – the appearance of supernovae of type la.
To discuss fantastic pictures in our Telegram chat. If you want to see the images in higher resolution can find them on the website of the European southern Observatory.