Prepare to be mesmerized by a breathtaking image captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, showcasing a cosmic spectacle unlike any other. This celestial wonder, known as R Aquarii, is not just a single star, but a captivating duo: a red giant and a white dwarf locked in a gravitational dance. Their interplay creates a phenomenon that has earned the star a nickname – the ‘stellar volcano.’
R Aquarii, formally classified as a symbiotic variable star, is a symphony of explosive activity. The red giant, the larger of the two, pulsates with changing temperature and brightness over a period of 390 days. This rhythmic pulse intersects with the white dwarf’s 44-year orbital journey around the red giant, resulting in a captivating spectacle. As the white dwarf approaches the red giant, its powerful gravity pulls in gas from the larger star, forming a swirling disk around itself. This disk eventually reaches a tipping point, collapsing and erupting in a spectacular explosion that throws out jets of matter. This cycle of gravitational tug-of-war, disk formation, and explosive eruptions repeats endlessly.
The Hubble observations have revealed the incredible scale and complexity of these eruptions. Powerful jets, seen as filaments shooting out from the binary system, form intricate loops and trails as the plasma is ejected in streams. The force of the explosion twists the plasma, channeling it upwards and outwards under the influence of strong magnetic fields. These powerful jets, energized by the blistering radiation of the stellar duo, glow in visible light, creating a breathtaking nebula known as Cederblad 211. This nebula is believed to be the remnant of a past nova, a powerful stellar explosion.
To truly grasp the extent of R Aquarii’s influence, imagine the material expelled from these eruptions traveling as far as 248 billion miles from the central core region – that’s 2,500 times the distance between Earth and the sun. This astonishing scale is highlighted in a video timeline of R Aquarii using data collected by Hubble between 2014 and 2023. The video reveals the swirling material near the heart of the system, remnants of previous jets, offering a glimpse into the colossal impact of this ‘stellar volcano.’
The Hubble image of R Aquarii is a testament to the awe-inspiring power of the cosmos. It reveals a cosmic dance between two stars, resulting in a captivating display of explosive activity, swirling material, and immense scale. This incredible phenomenon reminds us of the boundless wonders that lie beyond our planet, waiting to be explored and understood.