For a nova to occur, the system must have already been a
A) astrometric binary.
B) detached binary.
C) spectroscopic binary.
D) mass-transfer binary.
E) eclipsing binary.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a mass-transfer binary, one star is transferring material onto its companion star, building up a layer of hydrogen gas on its surface. When the pressure and temperature within this layer become high enough, hydrogen fusion can ignite, causing a runaway fusion reaction and an explosive release of energy known as a nova. In contrast, astrometric, detached, spectroscopic, and eclipsing binaries do not necessarily involve mass transfer and therefore are not linked to the occurrence of novae.

For a Nova to Occur, the System Must Have Already