Tag

Binary Systems

All articles tagged with #binary systems

science19 days ago•5 min saved

Gaia Survey Reveals Diverse Origins for Milky Way Runaway Stars

A Gaia- and IACOB-based study of 214 massive O-type runaway stars finds that most did not originate as binary companions; slower rotators are common, faster rotators often link to binary-supernova ejections, and the fastest stars tend to be single, likely ejected by gravitational interactions in young clusters. The researchers identify 12 runaway binaries, including candidates with neutron stars or black holes, showing multiple ejection mechanisms that shape galactic evolution.

via ScienceAlert|

#binary-systems #gaia-observatory #hypervelocity-stars

space24 days ago•4 min saved

Most Milky Way Runaway Stars Aren’t Born in Binaries, New Survey Finds

Spanish researchers using Gaia astrometry and the IACOB spectroscopic database analyzed 214 O-type runaway stars and found that most did not originate as binary companions; the fastest runaways tend to be single, while faster rotators are linked to binary-supernova ejections, indicating multiple ejection mechanisms. The study also identified 12 runaway binaries, including three X-ray binaries with neutron stars or black holes, underscoring complex pathways for how these stars leave their birthplaces and influence galactic evolution.

via Universe Today|

#binary-systems #gaia #milky-way

science1 month ago•43 min saved

Magnetized white dwarf paints puzzling rainbow bow shock

Astronomers observed a highly magnetized white dwarf in a tight binary with a Sun-like companion, siphoning gas and generating a rainbow-colored bow shock around RXJ0528+2838. The shock glows red, green and blue due to hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen as interstellar gas is heated by the outflow, but no known mechanism explains the outflow, suggesting a hidden energy source—perhaps magnetic fields. The structure appears long-lived, persisting for at least about 1,000 years.

via Reuters|

#astronomy #binary-systems #science

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Surprising Flares Detected from Supermassive Black Hole Pair

Researchers have observed unusual flares from a binary supermassive black hole system, AT 2021hdr, located in the Cygnus constellation. These flares, occurring every 60 to 90 days, are believed to be caused by the black holes passing through and disrupting a massive gas cloud, rather than consuming a star. This discovery, made using NASA's Zwicky Transient Facility and Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, challenges previous assumptions about such phenomena and suggests that the black holes are accreting large amounts of gas from the cloud.

via Ars Technica|

#astronomy #binary-systems #black-holes

science1 year ago•1 min saved

NASA Observes Cosmic Dance of Merging Supermassive Black Holes

Astronomers have identified a pattern of high-energy bursts from a distant galaxy, initially thought to be a supernova, as emissions from a pair of supermassive black holes on the verge of merging. Observations using the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory revealed periodic ultraviolet and X-ray light bursts, consistent with simulations of binary black holes interacting with a gas cloud. The black holes, with a combined mass of 40 million Suns, orbit each other every 130 days and are expected to merge in about 70,000 years. Further observations are planned to refine the model and study their interaction with the galaxy.

via Universe Today|

#astronomy #astrophysics #binary-systems

science1 year ago•10 min saved

The Impact of Stellar Companions on Star Evolution

The fate of a star is primarily determined by its initial mass and metallicity, but the presence of a companion star can significantly alter its evolutionary path. In binary systems, interactions such as mass transfer can lead to phenomena like novae, supernovae, or the formation of exotic objects like Thorne–Żytkow objects. Companions can also prevent supernovae by siphoning mass, leading to the creation of unusual white dwarfs or direct black hole formation. These interactions highlight the complex dynamics in multi-star systems and their impact on stellar evolution.

via Big Think|

#astronomy #binary-systems #science

astronomy1 year ago•3 min saved

Unraveling the Birth of Extreme "Blue Supergiant" Stars

Astronomers may have discovered that blue supergiant stars are formed when two stars in a binary system merge, solving a long-standing mystery. The team of researchers analyzed 59 early B-type blue supergiants and conducted stellar simulations, finding that mergers may be the dominant channel for producing these extreme stars. This discovery could have significant implications for understanding the birth of blue supergiant stars and the role of binary star mergers in shaping galaxies. The next step for the researchers is to investigate how the supernova explosions of blue supergiant stars create neutron stars and black holes.

via Space.com|

#astronomers #astronomy #astrophysical-journal-letters

astronomy1 year ago•3 min saved

"Lonely Ageing Brown Dwarfs: Hubble's Surprising Discovery"

A recent survey using the Hubble Space Telescope has found that ageing brown dwarfs, which are larger than Jupiter but smaller than stars, are less likely to have companions as they get older. This suggests that binary pairs of brown dwarfs do not survive over time, likely due to the weak gravitational hold between them and the disruptive influence of passing stars. The survey provides evidence that most brown dwarfs remain single for the majority of their long existence, supporting the theory that they are born the same way as stars but do not have enough mass to sustain nuclear fusion.

via ESA/Hubble|

#astronomy #binary-systems #brown-dwarfs

astronomy2 years ago•2 min saved

Unveiling the Enigmatic Stars: Astounding Discoveries and Unraveled Puzzles

Astronomers have discovered a population of stars in nearby dwarf galaxies that are the long-sought progenitors of a specific type of supernova. These stars, which have been theorized but not observed until now, are stripped of their outer hydrogen layers, leaving behind hydrogen-poor environments. The researchers have identified 25 stars in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds that appear to be stripped of their hydrogen envelopes, many of which are part of binary systems. The discovery has implications for our understanding of supernovas, gravitational waves, and the light from distant galaxies.

via Space.com|

#astronomy #binary-systems #dwarf-galaxies

astronomy2 years ago•5 min saved

Unveiling the Enigmatic Population of Stripped Stars in Supernova Science

Astronomers have discovered 25 stars in two satellite galaxies of the Milky Way that have had their hydrogen-rich outer layers stripped away by a binary companion, leaving them as exposed helium stars. These hydrogen-stripped stars represent the progenitors of a special type of supernova and fill in a gap in our understanding of these powerful cosmic events. The discovery of these stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud confirms models of stellar evolution and provides insights into the social lives of binary systems. Further study will be conducted to identify possible kilonova progenitor systems and search for hydrogen-stripped stars in other galaxies and within the Milky Way.

via Livescience.com|

#astronomy #binary-systems #hydrogen-stripped-stars

science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Hidden Accomplices: Unveiling the Secret Third Stars that Devour Binary Star Systems"

A new study suggests that the universe may be filled with more triple-star "vampire" systems than previously believed. Researchers at the University of Leeds have analyzed data from the Gaia and Hipparcos satellites and found that the strange features of type-Be stars, which spin rapidly and have rings of orbiting matter, could be explained by the influence of two additional companion stars. These triple-star systems may be more common in the universe than previously thought, shedding light on the evolution of these mysterious stars.

via Livescience.com|

#astrophysics #be-stars #binary-systems

astronomy2 years ago•3 min saved

Unveiling the Complexity of Black Holes: Paired Entities Pulled by Cosmic Expansion

A new paper suggests that black holes might not be as simple as previously thought. According to the metaphorically-named 'no-hair theorem', all the information about a black hole can be described by its mass, angular momentum, and charge. However, researchers have identified scenarios where black holes could become 'hairy', violating this theorem. By considering binary black hole systems and the repulsion between charged black holes, they propose the existence of stable equilibrium and multiple horizons. This analysis also suggests that a cosmological constant, similar to dark energy, could prevent certain black holes from merging. While these findings challenge current theorems, further research is needed to test their validity.

via ScienceAlert|

#astronomy #binary-systems #black-holes

astronomy2 years ago•4 min saved

Unraveling the Enigma of Exotic 'Stripped Stars' and Neutron Star Companions

Astronomers have discovered a population of stars that represent the "missing link" in the evolution of binary systems that eventually become colliding neutron stars, known as kilonovas. These stars, called intermediate-mass stripped helium stars, fill the helium-star mass gap and are crucial for the dispersion of heavy elements throughout the universe. The researchers detected 25 possible examples of these stars, which will eventually undergo ultra-stripped supernova explosions and merge into neutron star binaries. The study sheds light on the physical properties of these elusive stars and may help solve the puzzle of their appearance.

via Space.com|

#astronomy #binary-systems #kilonovas

astronomy2 years ago•4 min saved

Mysterious Planet Defies Destruction and Baffles Scientists

Astronomers have discovered a planet, named Halla, orbiting a red giant star called Baekdu, which should have been engulfed by the star's expansion. The star has already started fusing helium in its core, indicating that it should have grown large enough to consume the planet. However, two possible scenarios have been proposed to explain Halla's survival: either Baekdu was once part of a binary star system that prevented its expansion, or Halla is a relatively newborn planet formed from the collision of two stars. This discovery challenges our understanding of where exoplanets can exist.

via Gizmodo|

#astronomy #baekdu #binary-systems

astronomy2 years ago•2 min saved

"Breakthrough Discovery: Astronomers Uncover the Fastest Spider Pulsar, Solving Evolutionary Puzzle"

Astronomers using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) in China have discovered a millisecond pulsar that orbits its companion in just 53 minutes, making it the closest spider binary ever observed. This pulsar lies between the range of redback and black widow pulsars, suggesting it is an intermediary stage in the evolution of millisecond pulsars. The discovery supports the evolutionary model of spider pulsars and highlights the need to find more pulsars like it to further validate the theory.

via Universe Today|

#astronomy #astrophysics #binary-systems