Fact Sheet
Taking a Spin
The star Alpha Arae spins so fast that it bulges out at the equator, as this artist's concept shows. It also blows off a high-speed "wind" of hot gas, most of which comes from its poles. If the star were to spin a little faster, it would fly apart. [Anthony Meilland (Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, France)]
|