Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Symbiotic binary
open-in-new
<p>A symbiotic binary is a type of <a href="/facts/Binary_star/TYlDe1bD">binary star</a> system, often simply called a symbiotic star. They usually contain a <a href="/facts/White_dwarf/gIYlTtrC">white dwarf</a> with a companion <a href="/facts/Red_giant/lla6Bsvy">red giant</a>. The cool giant star loses material via <a href="/facts/Roche_lobe/4YglV2Kr">Roche lobe</a> overflow or through its <a href="/facts/Stellar_wind/ln8C3yHe">stellar wind</a>, which flows onto the hot compact star, usually via an <a href="/facts/Accretion_disk/8zJXshat">accretion disk</a>. </p><p>Symbiotic binaries are of particular interest to astronomers as they can be used to learn about stellar evolution. They are also vital in the study of stellar wind, ionized nebulae, and <a href="/facts/Accretion_(astrophysics)/atcWRsDP">accretion</a> because of the unique interstellar dynamics present within the system. </p>