Nova-like variable stars
type: Concept
broader: Cataclysmic variable stars

Novae
type: Concept
broader: Cataclysmic variable stars

Semi-detached binary stars
type: Concept
narrower: Cataclysmic variable stars

SX Arietis variable stars
type: Concept
broader: Cataclysmic variable stars

UV Persei stars
type: Concept
broader: Cataclysmic variable stars

WZ Sagittae stars
type: Concept
broader: Cataclysmic variable stars

Cataclysmic variable stars
type: Concept
contributor: AAS Frey.Katie Admin
modified: 2020-11-04T22:18:05.132Z
modified: 2020-11-04T22:17:50.694Z
alternative label: Cataclysmic binary stars
alternative label: Cataclysmic binaries
alternative label: Cataclysmic variables
broader: Intrinsic variable stars
broader: Semi-detached binary stars
definition: A variable star that shows a sudden and dramatic change in brightness, including flare stars, novae, and some types of symbiotic stars. They are believed to be very close binary systems consisting of an accreting white dwarf primary and an evolved late-type secondary star that has filled its Roche lobe. For systems with an accretion disk, it is believed that a thermal instability is the cause of repetitive outbursts observed in cataclysmic variables called dwarf novae.
narrower: AM Herculis stars
narrower: Nova-like variable stars
narrower: WZ Sagittae stars
narrower: AM Canum Venaticorum stars
narrower: UV Persei stars
narrower: SX Arietis variable stars
narrower: Novae

AM Canum Venaticorum stars
type: Concept
broader: Cataclysmic variable stars

AM Herculis stars
type: Concept
broader: Cataclysmic variable stars

Intrinsic variable stars
type: Concept
narrower: Cataclysmic variable stars