Artist's Impression of Two White Dwarf Stars Destined to Merge and Create a Type Ia Supernova (IMAGE)

ESO

Artist's Impression of Two White Dwarf Stars Destined to Merge and Create a Type Ia Supernova

Caption

This artist's impression shows the central part of the planetary nebula Henize 2-428. The core of this unique object consists of two white dwarf stars, each with a mass a little less than that of the Sun. They are expected to slowly draw closer to each other and merge in around 700 million years. This event will create a dazzling supernova of Type Ia and destroy both stars.

Credit

ESO/L. Calçada

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