R Aquarii (Symbiotic Binary) Tapestry Phone case Credit: ESO

Credit: ESO

This image is based on data acquired with the 1

which is twice the distance from our Sun to the nearest star

through three filters (B

gas and dust are combining to produce a new generation of stars

R Aquarii (Symbiotic Binary) Tapestry Phone case Credit: ESOThis image reveals a dramatic binary star system named R Aquarii, located 700 light years from Earth, as seen in 2012 by ESOs Very Large Telescope (VLT). R Aquarii is a so called symbiotic binary, comprising two stars surrounded by a large, dynamic cloud of gas (a nebula). Systems like this contain two stars in an unequal and complex relationship. R Aquarii is made up of one hot white dwarf and one red giant. The red giant is losing matter to its