It is located in our nearby suburbs. She, or rather they. Because what the Hubble Space Telescope observed was actually a double star. And not just any one. Undoubtedly the most spectacular pair of stars in our Milky Way Galaxy.
that AstronomersAstronomers Known as R Aquarii, it is a double star that is not quite like the others. It is called a symbiotic star because the binary consists of two completely different stars. On the one hand, there is a red giant more than 400 times larger than our Sun. A pulsar changes dramatically in temperature and brightnessbrightness Over a period of approximately one year. At its maximum brightness, it is about 5,000 times brighter than our Sun.
Amazing nuclear explosions
The other star that makes up E Aquarii is a white dwarf. When it passes as close as possible to its red giant false twin, it has a habit of siphoning off hydrogen from it. Until enough gas accumulates to cause a giant nuclear explosion. It appears to us in the form of a veritable cosmic fireworks display. with MissilesMissiles Of plasma twisted by the force of an explosion, directed forcefully Magnetic fieldsMagnetic fields It is expected to reach speeds of more than 1.6 million kilometers per hour and reach distances of up to 400 billion kilometers. This is approximately 25 times our diameter Solar systemSolar system ! Astronomers believe that such an explosion occurred in the late 1970s.
And today the teamEuropean Space AgencyEuropean Space Agency Which works on images returned by the Hubble Space Telescope takes advantage of the proximity of R Aquarii – it is about 700 Light yearLight year From our land – to offer us a Time passesTime passes Exceptional system. Observations extending from 2014 to 2023 that show the star's astonishing evolution bilateralbilateral and nebulanebula that surrounds him.
What is important to astronomers about this phenomenon is that it makes it possible to launch it into space Chemical elementsChemical elementsHeavy as CarbonCarbon ,l'nitrogennitrogen orOxygenOxygenFormed in the hearts of stars. Essential elements for planetary formation and the creation of life.
