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1. X-ray Binary / Black Hole
The most common type of multiple-star systems are those with two stars, which astronomers call “binaries.” Some of these pairs contain a star similar to the Sun in orbit with a much denser object such as a neutron star or black hole. These are known as “X-ray binaries” because the dense object often generates X-rays. In this case, material from the companion star is being pulled toward a black hole, which powers a jet outward into space. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
The most common type of multiple-star systems are those with two stars, which astronomers call “binaries.” Some of these pairs contain a star similar to the Sun in orbit with a much denser object such as a neutron star or black hole. These are known as “X-ray binaries” because the dense object often generates X-rays. In this case, material from the companion star is being pulled toward a black hole, which powers a jet outward into space. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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Labeled2. 3D model of V745 Sco
This illustrated figure depicts the 3D model of the V745 Sco explosion. The blast wave is yellow, the mass ejected by the explosion is purple, and the disk of cooler material, which is mostly untouched by the effects of the blast wave, is blue. The cavity visible on the left side of the ejected material (see the labeled version) is the result of the debris from the white dwarf’s surface being slowed down as it strikes the red giant. (Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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This illustrated figure depicts the 3D model of the V745 Sco explosion. The blast wave is yellow, the mass ejected by the explosion is purple, and the disk of cooler material, which is mostly untouched by the effects of the blast wave, is blue. The cavity visible on the left side of the ejected material (see the labeled version) is the result of the debris from the white dwarf’s surface being slowed down as it strikes the red giant. (Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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3. Illustration of Older Sun-like Star
A study using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA's XMM-Newton suggests X-rays emitted by a planet's host star may provide critical clues to how hospitable a star system could be. Researchers looked at the X-ray brightness from 24 stars with masses similar to the Sun or less, each at least one billion years old. The artist's illustration depicts one of these older Sun-like stars with a planet in orbit around it, which researchers found to be relatively calm compared to younger stars. The large dark area is a "coronal hole", a phenomenon associated with low levels of magnetic activity. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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A study using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA's XMM-Newton suggests X-rays emitted by a planet's host star may provide critical clues to how hospitable a star system could be. Researchers looked at the X-ray brightness from 24 stars with masses similar to the Sun or less, each at least one billion years old. The artist's illustration depicts one of these older Sun-like stars with a planet in orbit around it, which researchers found to be relatively calm compared to younger stars. The large dark area is a "coronal hole", a phenomenon associated with low levels of magnetic activity. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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4. Illustration of DG Tau
This artist's impression shows a close-up view of the young star DG Tau. The star is in the center of the illustration, surrounded by a large disk of cool gas, shown in orange and red. Material flows onto the star via thin streams shown in yellow, and high energy jets flowing away from the star are depicted in light blue. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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This artist's impression shows a close-up view of the young star DG Tau. The star is in the center of the illustration, surrounded by a large disk of cool gas, shown in orange and red. Material flows onto the star via thin streams shown in yellow, and high energy jets flowing away from the star are depicted in light blue. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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5. Stellar Evolution
The Sun and other stars shine as a result of nuclear reactions deep in their interiors. These reactions change light elements into heavier ones and release energy in the process. This illustration depicts how the outflow of energy from the central regions of a star provides the pressure necessary to keep the star from collapsing under its own weight. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
Field Guide: Stellar Evolution
The Sun and other stars shine as a result of nuclear reactions deep in their interiors. These reactions change light elements into heavier ones and release energy in the process. This illustration depicts how the outflow of energy from the central regions of a star provides the pressure necessary to keep the star from collapsing under its own weight. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
Field Guide: Stellar Evolution
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6. Stellar Fate
The fate of stars depends upon their mass; this illustration depicts how a small, large or extra-large star may develop into white dwarf, neutron star or black hole. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
Field Guide: Stellar Evolution
The fate of stars depends upon their mass; this illustration depicts how a small, large or extra-large star may develop into white dwarf, neutron star or black hole. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
Field Guide: Stellar Evolution
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7. Two Orbiting Stars
This artist's conception depicts the two closely orbiting stars of 44i Bootis. These two stars circle around each other at a rapid rate, passing in front of one another every three hours. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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This artist's conception depicts the two closely orbiting stars of 44i Bootis. These two stars circle around each other at a rapid rate, passing in front of one another every three hours. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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8. Artist's Conception of TW Hydrae and HD 98800A
An artist's conception shows TW Hydrae (left) and HD 98800A (right), two young star systems that are both members of the TW Hydrae stellar association which formed about 10 million years ago. On the left, the illustration depicts matter accreting onto the star from a circumstellar disk. X-rays are produced as matter from the disk is guided by the star's magnetic field onto one or more hot spots on the surface of the star. On the right, the illustration shows a binary star system's brightest star producing X-rays much as the Sun does, from a hot upper atmosphere or corona. This indicates that any disk around these stars has been greatly diminished or destroyed in ten million years, perhaps by the ongoing formation of planets or by its companion stars.
(Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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An artist's conception shows TW Hydrae (left) and HD 98800A (right), two young star systems that are both members of the TW Hydrae stellar association which formed about 10 million years ago. On the left, the illustration depicts matter accreting onto the star from a circumstellar disk. X-rays are produced as matter from the disk is guided by the star's magnetic field onto one or more hot spots on the surface of the star. On the right, the illustration shows a binary star system's brightest star producing X-rays much as the Sun does, from a hot upper atmosphere or corona. This indicates that any disk around these stars has been greatly diminished or destroyed in ten million years, perhaps by the ongoing formation of planets or by its companion stars.
(Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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9. Illustration of Large Flares
These two illustrations show a planet-forming disk of gas and dust around a young star that is shown undergoing large flares. The left panel shows the disk is initially smooth. The X-rays from the large flares should heat the planet-forming disk and give it an electric charge. This charge, combined with motion of the disk and the effects of magnetic fields should create turbulence in the disk (shown at right). This turbulence may knock rocky, Earth-like planets inwards and outwards in their orbits, overcoming their tendency to rapidly migrate through the disk towards the young star. (Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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These two illustrations show a planet-forming disk of gas and dust around a young star that is shown undergoing large flares. The left panel shows the disk is initially smooth. The X-rays from the large flares should heat the planet-forming disk and give it an electric charge. This charge, combined with motion of the disk and the effects of magnetic fields should create turbulence in the disk (shown at right). This turbulence may knock rocky, Earth-like planets inwards and outwards in their orbits, overcoming their tendency to rapidly migrate through the disk towards the young star. (Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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10. Illustration of Small Flare
These two illustrations show a planet-forming disk of gas and dust around a young star that is undergoing small flares. In this case the disk remains smooth and the rocky Earth-like planet migrates through the disk towards the young star. (Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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These two illustrations show a planet-forming disk of gas and dust around a young star that is undergoing small flares. In this case the disk remains smooth and the rocky Earth-like planet migrates through the disk towards the young star. (Credit: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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11. Super Flare Animation Still Images
This series of stills shows how X-ray flares from a young star affect a planet-forming disk. Light from the young star is reflected off the inner part of the disk, making it glow. The view zooms in to show small white flares continually erupting on the surface of the young star. A set of huge white magnetic loops then erupts from the star and hits the inside edge of the disk, resulting in an extremely bright flare. X-rays from the flare then heat up the planet-forming disk and will later result in turbulence that affects the positions of planets.
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(Credit: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)
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This series of stills shows how X-ray flares from a young star affect a planet-forming disk. Light from the young star is reflected off the inner part of the disk, making it glow. The view zooms in to show small white flares continually erupting on the surface of the young star. A set of huge white magnetic loops then erupts from the star and hits the inside edge of the disk, resulting in an extremely bright flare. X-rays from the flare then heat up the planet-forming disk and will later result in turbulence that affects the positions of planets.
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(Credit: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)
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12. Illustration of Convection in Sun-like Star
Neon, along with atoms of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, plays an important role in regulating the rate at which energy flows from nuclear reactions in the Sun's core to its surface. The character of the energy flow changes dramatically about 125,000 miles from the surface on the Sun, where the stately diffusion of heat suddenly converts to a convective motion much like the unstable air in a thunderstorm. (Credit: Spectrum: NASA/CXC/J.Drake & P.Testa; Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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Neon, along with atoms of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, plays an important role in regulating the rate at which energy flows from nuclear reactions in the Sun's core to its surface. The character of the energy flow changes dramatically about 125,000 miles from the surface on the Sun, where the stately diffusion of heat suddenly converts to a convective motion much like the unstable air in a thunderstorm. (Credit: Spectrum: NASA/CXC/J.Drake & P.Testa; Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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13. Illustrations of Coronal Mass Ejection
Coronal mass ejections (or CMEs) are huge bubbles of gas threaded with magnetic field lines that are ejected at high speeds (millions of miles per hour) from the Sun over the course of several hours. If a CME collides with the Earth, it can excite a geomagnetic storm that can damage spacecraft, cause electrical power outages, and endanger astronauts. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)
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Coronal mass ejections (or CMEs) are huge bubbles of gas threaded with magnetic field lines that are ejected at high speeds (millions of miles per hour) from the Sun over the course of several hours. If a CME collides with the Earth, it can excite a geomagnetic storm that can damage spacecraft, cause electrical power outages, and endanger astronauts. (Illustration: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)
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Revised: April 26, 2023