Capturing the moment a white dwarf exploded

undefined 20, 2026

Source: wired

Astronomers using the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA Array) captured the earliest high-resolution images of two novae, revealing that these white-dwarf explosions unfold in multiple stages rather than a single blast. Observations of V1674 Herculis and V1405 Cassiopeiae show interacting ejecta, shock waves, and gamma-ray emission, suggesting novae are complex laboratories for studying stellar shocks and particle acceleration.

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