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Symbiotic Star R Aquarii

Symbiotic Star R Aquarii


Date: 03 October 1990
Depicts: Artist's Impression of Symbiotic Star
Copyright: NASA/Dana Berry (STScI)

This illustration depicts one possible explanation for R Aquarii's semi-periodic outbursts. The peculiar behavior of R. Aquarii suggests that the red giant star in the R Aquarii system may spill some of its mass onto the companion - a common mechanism proposed for most nova-like outbursts. The mass transfer process may form an accretion disk: a swirling, flattened vortex of hot gasses that spiral down onto the hot companion. The disk may periodically erupt when the companion becomes overloaded with in-falling material. These explosions may happen only periodically when the white dwarf orbits close enough to pull in material from the star's outer layer.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
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3-May-2024 22:06 UT

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