Universe  ID: 10546

Neutron Star and Red Giant Binary Destruction

Released on January 26, 2010
After a supernova, a binary star may be composed of one red giant and one neutron star. The red giant can be torn apart by the neturon star's gravity if it is too close.
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This animation shows the destruction of a red giant by a black hole. As the gas that makes up the star accelerates and crosses the event horizon, vast plumes of relativistic particles and radiation are emitted from the black hole's poles.
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The surface of the star brightens due to tidal forces.

Credits

Dana Berry (Skyworks Digital): Lead Animator
Michael McClare (HTSI): Producer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10546

This item is part of this series:
Astrophysics Animations

Keywords:
SVS >> Galaxy
SVS >> Neutron Star
DLESE >> Space science
SVS >> Astrophysics
SVS >> Universe
SVS >> Red Giant
SVS >> Binary Star
NASA Science >> Universe