Artist’s impression of a micronova (close up)

This artist’s impression shows a two-star system, with a white dwarf (in the foreground) and a companion star (in the background), where micronovae may occur. The white dwarf steals materials from its companion, which is funneled towards its poles. As the material falls on the hot surface of the white dwarf, it triggers a micronova explosion, contained at one of the star’s poles.