Two stars so close each is tidally warped toward the other

This is an artist's interpretation (inspired by an earlier Chesley Bonestell painting which appeared in Beyond The Solar System, 1964) of two stars that have moved so close that each becomes tidally warped towards the other. These two stars are close enough that gaseous material from the primary star (the smaller one) is being accreted by the (apparently) larger secondary star. However the secondary star has been surrounded by so much material at this stage that it only appears larger - while in fact it is only the accreted material that can be seen with the much smaller secondary star itself being hidden inside the material

Astrophysics Beta Binary Companion Composite Cosmic Distorted Geophysics Gravitation Gravity Hillside Induced Locked Locking Mountainous Nucleus Orbit Primary Radial Secondary Spectroscopic Spiral Stellar Surrounding Swirl Tidal Vortex Warp Warping

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