A binary star supernova is a spectacular phenomenon where one of the stars in the system eventually collapses with an almost unimaginable explosion. Scientists at the University of California at Berkeley recently discovered a type of supernova that, fueled by helium instead of the usual carbon, is only about a tenth as bright as a normal supernova. A more frightening discovery is of a binary system in our own galaxy, only about 3,260 light years away, that had regular nova explosions every 20 years or so on average until 1967. Whether this binary system is destined to become a binary star supernova is not known, but if it did, it would destroy the Earth's ozone layer - meaning the end of life on our planet.

This illustration depicts a binary star system consisting of a dense neutron star and a normal sun-like star (upper left). Using data from the European

categories:Stars | tags:Magazine, Stars

Thanks to this unprecedented look into the early lives of binary stars, researchers have gotten a glimpse into the complex formation of the most common stellar setup.

This unusual depiction of binary stars accompanied by female nudes is reproduced from 'Twin Stars', a watercolour painting by Luis Ricardo Falero. This print would be ideal for any room in the home. Falero was a Spanish artist who specialised in painting female nudes in fantasy settings. He also had an interest in astronomy. Twin Stars is an excellent example of how he often combined his art with his astronomical interest. Note: this print is not 100% true to the original – it has been enhanced digitally from an image of the original painting and is printed to order using top quality durable materials. MIX & MATCH MULTIBUY OFFER Buy any two OneCentury prints and get 10% OFF our already competitive prices. Buy three or more prints and get 20% OFF. EASY TO FRAME SIZES Note that the frames shown in the pictures are for illustrative purposes only. Our prints are offered UNFRAMED, but are produced in a choice of standard sizes for ease of framing. The print includes a white border, so there is no need for a frame mount/mat. Just pop the print into a standard sized frame to fit. Standard sizes offered for this print: A5 (21 cm x 14.8 cm) A4 (29.7 cm x 21 cm) A3 (42 cm x 29.7 cm) A2 (59.4 cm x 42 cm) TOP QUALITY MATERIALS We print only with fine art large format printers on archival quality thick matte paper (280 gsm). We use the latest pigment-based inks for rich vibrant colours and ultra long life. The special formulation of these inks, together with the quality media, means the print will not fade or discolour even in direct sunlight (unlike the cheap prints available from some suppliers). Please note: owing to the limitations of computer displays, our colours may vary slightly from those you see on screen. FAST & FREE DELIVERY We aim to dispatch within two working days of receiving an order. We send the artwork by first class Royal Mail post. All our prints are packaged in protective artwork bags. Small prints (e.g. A4 and 25 cm x 20 cm) are sent in hard-backed envelopes. Larger ones (e.g. A2 and 50 cm x 40 cm) are sent in postal tubes.

Behold VFTS 352, the hottest and most massive “overcontact binary” star system ever discovered. The two stars, which are so close that they’re touching, feature a combined mass 57 times that of our Sun. Astronomers say it’s a unique stellar relationship that will culminate in a rather dramatic finish.

Yes. Planets that orbit a single star in a binary star system are called “non-circumbinary planets”. In general, a...

Unlike the sun, most stars are part of a binary pair.