Zeta Oph: Runaway Star . ... Credit Copyright: NASA , JPL-Caltech , Spitzer Space Telescope Explanation: Like a ship plowing through cosmic seas, runaway star Zeta Ophiuchi produces the arcing interstellar bow wave or bow shock seen in this stunning infrared portrait . ... What set this star in motion? Zeta Oph was likely once a member of a binary star system , its companion star was more massive and hence shorter lived . ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . ...