Sunny Priyan
A triple star system containing three Sun-like stars. Two are very tightly orbiting. The third star has a much wider orbit.
Credit: NASA
The close stellar pair spiral together and merge to form one more massive star.
Credit: NASA
The merged star evolves into a giant star.
Credit: NASA
As the huge photosphere expands, some of the material falls onto the outer companion, causing the companion to grow larger and its rotation rate to increase.
Credit: NASA
The central merged star burns out into a massive white dwarf, pulling its outer companion into a tighter orbit. Thus, forms a compact binary system.
Credit: NASA
The surviving outer companion is much like our Sun but nicknamed a "blue lurker" as it is slightly brighter and bluer due to earlier mass-transfer.
Image Credit: Freepik