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Astronomers spot white dwarf star creating a colorful shockwave

image sourced from original article at https://www.jpost.com/science/article-883170

Astronomers have discovered a highly magnetized white dwarf star in the constellation Auriga, about 730 light-years from Earth, that is creating a vibrant shockwave as it moves through space. This white dwarf is part of a binary system, siphoning gas from its nearby red dwarf companion. Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, scientists observed a bow shock glowing in red, green, and blue hues, representing hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen in the interstellar medium. Unlike other similar systems, this white dwarf lacks a surrounding disk of gas, and the mechanism behind its dramatic outflow remains a mystery. Researchers estimate the shockwave has persisted for at least 1,000 years and are intrigued by both its scientific implications and its visual beauty, noting it highlights the dynamic nature of the cosmos.

Original article source: https://www.jpost.com/science/article-883170
Source Id: 9040334806

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