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Stellar Surf's Up: Monster Waves as Tall as Three Suns are Crashing upon a Colossal Star

  • Artist conception of the system, where the smaller star induces breaking surface waves in the more massive companion.

    Artist conception of the system, where the smaller star induces breaking surface waves in the more massive companion.

    Credit: Melissa Weiss, CfA

    Low Resolution Image

    High Resolution Image

  • system simulation
    Simulation Caption: A gas dynamics computer simulation of the system shows that during a close passage, gas is raised into a huge tidal wave on the larger star before crashing back to the surface.
    Credit: Morgan MacLeod, CfA

    Animation