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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 May 2016
Binarity in central stars is often thought to be the most likely explanation for the bipolar and axisymmetric shapes seen in planetary nebulae. Theoretical computations show that low mass stellar companions — possibly even planets, merged nuclei and long period systems will also produce bipolar-shaped nebulae. As such all known short period binary central stars are expected to have an axisymmetric nebula surrounding them.