![054-Beta-Lyrae [054] Beta Lyrae – This illustration by Don Dixon depicts the Beta Lyrae (Sheliak) binary system from the perspective of a nearby planetary surface. The scene visualizes a contact or semi-detached binary pair where the donor star is distorted into a teardrop shape by tidal forces, funneling a stream of gas toward its more massive companion. This mass transfer creates a prominent, glowing spiral of ionized material that expands into a circum-system disk, reflecting the intense ultraviolet radiation of the primary stars.acrylic and gouache on illustration board ; 1976 © Don Dixon](054-beta-lyrae-dixon.jpg)
[054] Beta Lyrae – This illustration by Don Dixon depicts the Beta Lyrae (Sheliak) binary system from the perspective of a nearby planetary surface. The scene visualizes a contact or semi-detached binary pair where the donor star is distorted into a teardrop shape by tidal forces, funneling a stream of gas toward its more massive companion. This mass transfer creates a prominent, glowing spiral of ionized material that expands into a circum-system disk, reflecting the intense ultraviolet radiation of the primary stars.acrylic and gouache on illustration board ; 1976 © Don Dixon
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![054-Beta-Lyrae [054] Beta Lyrae – This illustration by Don Dixon depicts the Beta Lyrae (Sheliak) binary system from the perspective of a nearby planetary surface. The scene visualizes a contact or semi-detached binary pair where the donor star is distorted into a teardrop shape by tidal forces, funneling a stream of gas toward its more massive companion. This mass transfer creates a prominent, glowing spiral of ionized material that expands into a circum-system disk, reflecting the intense ultraviolet radiation of the primary stars.acrylic and gouache on illustration board ; 1976 © Don Dixon](../index.html#img=054-beta-lyrae-dixon.jpg)