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White Dwarf Merger Illustration

An illustration of a white dwarf star merging with a red giant star. The red giant is an arch across the bottom of the illustration, with a textured surface. The white dwarf is a white pinpoint object at upper center right. The white dwarf in embedded inside a teardrop-shaped cocoon of white gas. It is enveloped in a white open ellipsoid that is the bow shock from speeding through the red giant’s outer atmosphere. The words “artist’s concept” are at lower left.

This is an illustration of a white dwarf star merging with a red giant star. A bow shock forms as the dwarf plunges through the star's outer atmosphere. The passage strips down the white dwarf's outer layers, exposing an interior carbon core.

Release Date
August 13, 2025
Science Release
NASA’s Hubble Uncovers Rare White Dwarf Merger Remnant
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Credit
Artwork: NASA, ESA, STScI, Ralf Crawford (STScI)

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Details

Last Updated

Aug 17, 2025

Location

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Contact

Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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