Close-up artwork of two-faced white dwarf (IMAGE)

California Institute of Technology

Close-up artwork of two-faced white dwarf

Caption

This artist’s concept shows the two-faced white dwarf nicknamed Janus. The blue-tinted dead cinder of a star, which was once a star like our sun, is composed primarily of hydrogen on one side and helium on the other (the hydrogen side appears brighter). The peculiar double-faced nature of this white dwarf might be due to the interplay of magnetic fields and convection, or a mixing of materials. On the helium side, which appears bubbly, convection has destroyed the thin hydrogen layer on the surface and brought up the helium underneath.

Credit

K. Miller, Caltech/IPAC

Usage Restrictions

No restrictions.

License

CC0

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