Hubble Captures Dramatic Outbursts from R Aquarii Binary Star System

The telescope reveals a stunning spiral nebula formed by the explosive interactions of a red giant and a white dwarf star.

The R Aquarii system, located about 700 light-years away, features a red giant and a white dwarf in a symbiotic relationship.
The red giant is over 400 times larger than the Sun and can be up to 5,000 times brighter at its peak.
Explosive outbursts occur when the white dwarf siphons off hydrogen from the red giant, leading to nuclear fusion on its surface.
The resulting explosions create spectacular loops and trails of plasma, extending 24 times the diameter of our solar system.
Hubble's observations include a timelapse video showing the dramatic changes in the star system from 2014 to 2023.