This year’s NYE fireworks are brought to you by the cosmos!⁣ :

⁣This stellar show captured by @NASAChandraXRay is a nova called GK Persei. It’s an example of a “classical nova,” or an outburst of mass caused by a thermonuclear explosion on the dense surface of a white dwarf star. This often happens when a white dwarf and a larger star – often a red giant – orbit each other. Together, they become a binary star system. The white dwarf rips material from its companion star, and if enough borrowed mass accumulates on the surface of the white dwarf, a cosmic blast occurs, resulting in a stellar fireworks display.⁣

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Classical novae can be considered "mini supernovae." The fundamental physics between them are the same, but classical novae are smaller, less energetic, and don’t result in the star’s destruction.⁣

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Image Description: A firework-like explosion stands out against black space. The bright, white center of the burst radiates out into sharp flares of orange. A smoky cloud of blue fills most of the nova, with a purple spray lining the bottom right border of the blast.⁣

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Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/RIKEN/D.Takei et al; Optical: NASA/STScI; Radio: NRAO/VLA⁣

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#NASA #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Fireworks #NYE #NewYearsEve #NewYear #2024

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01 January 2024