Artist’s impression of a micronova (IMAGE)
Caption
This artist’s impression shows a two-star system where micronovae may occur. The blue disc swirling around the bright white dwarf in the centre of the image is made up of material, mostly hydrogen, stolen from its companion star. Towards the centre of the disc, the white dwarf uses its strong magnetic fields to funnel the hydrogen towards its poles. As the material falls on the hot surface of the star, it triggers a micronova explosion, contained by the magnetic fields at one of the white dwarf’s poles.
Credit
Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser, L. Calçada [Credit must be given to the creator and the European Southern Observatory must be mentioned in the media article.]
Usage Restrictions
Credit must be given to the creator.
License
CC BY