Massive explosion from tiny star system

(MSNBC)-Images are evidence in favor of cyclic evolution of binary stars
A type of binary star system known to erupt in small frequent explosions every few weeks is now known to occasionally erupt in much bigger, cataclysmic blasts as well every 10,000 years or so, according to a new study.

www.msnbc.msn.com...

Images from NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer confirmed that a shell of gas detected four years ago is left over from a large explosion of a binary star system called Z Camelopardalis, located some 530 light years away.

www.msnbc.msn.com...

Z Cam is a type of dwarf novas that currently experiences small explosions every three weeks or so. The new finding supports a 20-year-old theory — for which data never before existed — that double star systems can go through both large and small explosions rather than just one or the other.

www.msnbc.msn.com...

"The new images are the strongest evidence yet in favor of the cyclic evolution of these binary stars," said Michael Shara of the American Museum of Natural History, lead author of a research paper on the finding. "It's gratifying to see such strong evidence for this theory finally emerge after all this time."
www.msnbc.msn.com...

Full story here
www.msnbc.msn.com...

[edit on 14-3-2007 by Black_Fox]

Very cool! Thanks for posting that. I am not always on top of the latest science articles.