Astronomers Discover White Dwarf Stars Orbiting Each Other

By: Nina Sen, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor

Date: 13 November 2012 Time: 10:43 AM ET

CREDIT: ESO/H. Boffin

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Scientists have found a pair of white dwarf stars that are orbiting each other at the center of the Fleming 1 nebula. Using ESO's Very Large Telescope, the astronomers say the stars circle each other every 1.2 days. The astronomers say this is what is responsible for the symmetric appearance of material being flung out from both sides of the nebula.

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