Media Information
 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day Collection
Title:
BZ Cam Bow Shock
Explanation:
BZ Cam is a binary star system [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] that is not well understood. In most cataclysmic variables [ http://imagine.gsfc…], matter from a normal star [ http://www.astro.um…] accumulates on the surface of the companion white dwarf [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] star, eventually causing a nova [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…]-like flare as the material becomes hot enough to ignite nuclear fusion [ http://www.sciam.co…]. In BZ Cam [ http://www.journals…], however, light appears to flicker unpredictably, and an unusually large wind [ http://www-spof.gsf…] of particles is being expelled. Pictured above [ http://www.to.astro…], BZ Cam [ http://www.kusastro…]'s wind creates a large bow-shock [ http://www.windows.…] as the system moves through surrounding interstellar gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…]. BZ Cam [ http://adsabs.harva…] lies about 2500 light-years [ http://chandra.harv…] away toward the constellation [ http://www.astro.wi…] of Camelopardalis [ http://www.astronom…].
Credit and Copyright:
R. Casalegno [ http://www.to.astro…], C. Conselice [ http://www.astro.wi…] et al., WIYN [ http://www.noao.edu…], NOAO [ http://www.noao.edu/], MURST [ http://www.murst.it/], NSF [ http://www.nsf.gov/]
keyword:
bow shock
keyword:
cataclysmic variable star
keyword:
BZ Cam
facet_where:
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
facet_where:
Washington, D.C.
facet_what:
Camelopardalis
original url:
http://antwrp.gsfc.…
UID:
SPD-APOD-ap001128

BZ Cam Bow Shock
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