binary stars
Alpha Centauri Could Have a Super Jupiter in Orbit
The three-body problem is one of Nature's thorniest problems. The gravitational interactions and resulting movements of three bodies are notoriously…
Simulating the Last Moments Before Neutron Stars Merge
When stars reach the end of their life cycle, they shed their outer layers in a supernova. What is left…
Binary Stars Form in the Same Nebula But Aren’t Identical. Now We Know Why.
It stands to reason that stars formed from the same cloud of material will have the same metallicity. That fact…
Brown Dwarf Pairs Drift Apart in Old Age
The only thing worse than drifting through space for an eternity is doing it alone. Observations with the Hubble Space…
Vampire Stars Get Help from a Third Star to Feed
Some stars are stuck in bad binary relationships. A massive primary star feeds on its smaller companion, sucking gas from…
Giant Tidal Waves are Crashing Onto the Surface of an Enormous Star
Although the surface of a star seems quite different from the ocean, the underlying effect of gravity can create similar…
Evidence for Modified Gravity Found in the Motions of Binary Stars
There are two leading explanations for dark matter, massive particles that don't interact with regular matter apart from gravity and…
A Neutron Star is Unwinding a Companion Star
Astronomers have found a bizarre binary star system where a neutron star orbits with another star. Its companion used to…
Each Planetary Nebula is Unique. Why Do They Look So Different?
When it comes to cosmic eye candy, planetary nebulae are at the top of the candy bowl. Like fingerprints—or maybe…
These Stars are Already Merging, but Their Future Will Be Catastrophic
Two stars are in the process of merging, but they will become black holes before they do.