Nova explosions occur in binary star systems in which a white dwarf—the dense remnant of a dead star—continually siphons stellar material from a nearby companion star. As the outer atmosphere of the ...

Astronomers have for the first time observed a recurring nova outside of the Milky Way in near-infrared light. The data revealed highly unusual chemical emissions as well as one of the hottest ...

Spectacular explosions keep occurring in the binary star system named RS Ophiuchi. Every 20 years or so, the red giant star dumps enough hydrogen gas onto its companion white dwarf star to set off a ...

M31N 2008-12a, a nova remnant in the Andromeda galaxy, has been identified as the largest known, spanning over 400 light-years. This remnant is attributed to a recurrent nova, a white dwarf star ...

A star that had been in hiding for 15 years suddenly reappeared in the skies. On August 9, 2021, the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi had a dramatic outburst, brightening seven magnitudes over a period of ...

Astronomers uncover extremely hot and violent eruption from first ever near-infrared analysis of a recurrent nova outside of the Milky Way Galaxy Almost all novae discovered to-date have been observed ...