The European Space Agency (ESA) on Friday shared a stunning picture of a mysterious star system. The star is located 3,400 light-years away in the Sagitta constellation and comprises a red giant and its white dwarf companion. ESA called it the ''Cosmic dance of ice and fire'', noting how it has become increasingly hotter and dimmer.
According to ESA, the enigmatic stars had surprised astronomers with a ''nova-like outburst'' in 1975 — growing some 250 times brighter.
''It's a tale of two stars: a red giant generously donates material to its white dwarf companion, creating a dazzling display. The red haze? That's the red giant's powerful wind! ️But Mira HM Sge is a real enigma. In 1975, it surprised astronomers with a nova-like outburst, but unlike most novae, it hasn't faded. Since then, it's gotten hotter yet dimmer!'' the caption of the post reads. The post includes four images that together form the entire picture of the symbiotic star system.
See the images here:
Astronomers have used new data from Hubble and the retired NASA SOFIA observatory (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) as well as archival data from other missions to revisit the binary star system.
''Thanks to Hubble and the retired SOFIA telescope, we're piecing together the puzzle. Hubble's ultraviolet data reveals scorching temperatures around the white dwarf, while SOFIA detected water flowing at incredible speeds, hinting at a swirling disk of material,'' the caption of the post further reads.
Between April and September 1975, the binary system HM Sagittae grew 250 times brighter. Recently, observations show that the system has gotten hotter, but paradoxically faded a little.
Reacting to the image, one user wrote, ''really amazing this dance of swapping material between the red giant and the white dwarf.''
Another commented, ''This is so beautiful and enigmatic, love it.'' A third said, ''awesome shots.''
Featured Video Of The Day
Star Clusters Formed 460 Million Years After Big Bang Discovered By James Webb Telescope Actor Vijay's Big Attack On DMK Over Drugs Issue In Tamil Nadu What Does 'Ram Setu' Look Like From Space? European Agency Shares Pic "Baba Should Come, Heal Us": After Hathras Stampede, Faith Turns Into Rage Nobody Can Expect To Escape: Kiren Rijiju On Notice Against Rahul Gandhi Agniveer's Family Was Paid Rs 98 Lakh: Army After Rahul Gandhi's Claim Airport Security In Canada Mistakes Woman's Power Bank For Sex Toy Ananya Panday In A Red Mini Dress Proves That Looks Can Kill Indeed "Baba Should Come, Heal Us": After Hathras Stampede, Faith Turns Into Rage Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.