Astronomy Cast Ep. 783: Cataclysmic Variable Stars
Published: February 23, 2026
Duration: 31:19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzFgfN2B_k4
Hosted by: Fraser Cain (@frasercain) and Dr. Pamela L. Gay (@CosmoQuest)
Streamed live on Feb 16, 2026.
There are many types of variable stars. Today we're gonna talk about cataclysmic variable stars, which are the result of a white dwarf stealing material from a companion star. And this whole process makes supervillain Pamela happy. Gravity is the weakest force, but on the scales of stars, it is capable of great violence. In this episode, we look at the wild physics of cataclysmic variables: binary star systems...