Brace for Impact: Doomed ‘Cannibal’ Star Set to Explode in a Daytime Supernova!

Betelgeuse may soon have competition from a star system that’s capturing the attention of astronomers. V Sagittae, located about 10,000 light-years away, is home to a white dwarf star that is on the verge of a spectacular explosion. Over the years, it has been overfeeding on its companion star, leading to a cosmic event that could be as bright as the moon—visible even during the day.

V Sagittae consists of a white dwarf and its companion star orbiting each other every two days. This unique pairing has puzzled scientists since its discovery in 1902. According to Phil Charles from the University of Southampton, “V Sagittae’s brightness comes from the white dwarf consuming stellar material. The energy generated is so intense that it behaves like a thermonuclear explosion on its surface, shining brightly in the night sky.”

As stars like our sun age, they transition into white dwarfs, eventually exhausting their nuclear fuel. Typically, these stars end their lives quietly. However, when a white dwarf has a companion star, it can pull material from it, forming what’s known as an accretion disk. This swirling mass slowly makes its way onto the surface of the white dwarf. When the accumulated mass exceeds a critical limit—the Chandrasekhar limit of 1.4 solar masses—the white dwarf triggers a Type Ia supernova, often destroying itself in the process.

Recent studies reveal that V Sagittae is undergoing an extraordinary process. Using the Very Large Telescope in Chile, researchers discovered a massive halo of gas surrounding both stars. This halo indicates that the white dwarf is consuming more material than it can handle. Pasi Hakala from the University of Turku highlights the frantic signs of this system’s impending demise, with the gas halo appearing as a bright cosmic ring.

Experts predict a nova outburst could occur in the coming years, making V Sagittae visible with the naked eye. Eventually, when the two stars collide, the resulting supernova could be one of the brightest explosions observable from Earth.

The team’s findings were recently published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. As this cosmic drama unfolds, it offers a glimpse into the fascinating life cycles of stars and the violent but beautiful events that can mark their endings.

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companion star, white dwarf, star system, V Sagittae, stellar remnant, star, stellar material