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Fusing fusion? (February 2019)

"Artist’s impression of the hottest and most massive touching double star" (ESO)

Taking fusion to the next level? This is an artist's impression of VFTS 352, the biggest and hottest binary star system with the two stars touching known to date. The two stars, locked in orbit together, are so close to each other that their atmospheres overlap. Either this configuration ends in a supernova and a consecutive binary black hole system, or... the two stars fuse together, producing one even more massive, rapidly spinning star.

Yes, you read it right, that's two fusion reactors fusing together.

Date
Photographer(s)
ESO/L. Calçada
Disclaimer

The photos are subject to copyright of the owner. Do not re-use or re-distribute without permission.