What is the closest white dwarf binary system?

Interestingly -- very interestingly, as we'll see in a moment -- this companion star is pretty high-mass for a white dwarf, about 1.1 to 1.2 times the mass of the Sun. Usually, white dwarfs are around 0.6 times the Sun's mass, and it's rare to find one that heavy. read more

Over 80% of the stars we see are actually binary star systems, with the stars orbiting each other. There are triple star systems as well. Binary pairs usually have the same name, with a letter A, or B as a suffix. read more

The nearest known white dwarf is Sirius B, at 8.6 light years, the smaller component of the Sirius binary star. There are currently thought to be eight white dwarfs among the hundred star systems nearest the Sun. The unusual faintness of white dwarfs was first recognized in 1910. read more

The white dwarf star in the X9 binary system orbits a black hole at a gap thought to be less than three times the distance between Earth and the moon. The white dwarf star in the X9 binary system orbits a black hole at a gap thought to be less than three times the distance between Earth and the moon. read more