Astronomers using a pair of ground-based MAGIC telescopes have observed a nova explosion created by a pair of stars in the Serpent Bearer constellation.
There is a remnant of a former bright star called a white dwarf and a much larger red giant in the pair. The red giant is casting off layers of hydrogen as its fuel dwindles, and this gas is being sucked up by the dense white dwarf. The shell of gas forming around it builds in temperature and pressure until it is thrown off in a huge thermonuclear explosion, as the sheer volume of gas being gobbled up by the white dwarf is overwhelming. The story isn't over as the two stars continue the cycle again.
The MAGIC telescopes have detected one of these explosions every 15 years. The explosions give off a lot of energy, with as much as 250 gigaelectronvolts, which is some of the highest energy ever seen in a nova.
The researchers were able to view the explosions quickly after being alerted by other instruments.
The researchers were able to see the effects of the nova explosion as the shock waves from the explosion spread out from the stars. Cosmic rays are particles which travel through space.
They contribute to the cosmic rays in the close neighborhood. The big players are the remnants of exploded stars. novae's shock fronts are less violent than stellar explosions.
The journal Nature Astronomy has published the research.
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