Astronomers used interferometry at the CHARA Array to take direct images of two novae soon after they erupted. Interferometry combines light from several telescopes to make very sharp pictures. The researchers published their study in Nature Astronomy.
One nova, V1674 Herculis, was very fast: it brightened and faded in just days. Images showed two perpendicular outflows of gas. At the same time, NASA’s Fermi telescope detected high-energy gamma rays, linking those rays to colliding flows and shocks.
The second nova, V1405 Cassiopeiae, evolved slowly and kept its outer layers for more than 50 days before releasing them. When the material left, new shocks formed and Fermi saw gamma rays. Spectra from other observatories matched the images and confirmed how the flows form.
Difficult words
- nova — A sudden bright object that appears and fades.novae
- interferometry — A method that combines light from telescopes.
- outflow — Gas moving away from the nova or source.outflows
- gamma ray — High-energy light detected from colliding flows.gamma rays
- shock — A sudden strong change when gas flows collide.shocks
- spectrum — Light information from observatories that matched images.Spectra
- erupt — To burst out quickly and release material.erupted
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Which find in the article interests you more: fast nova or slow nova? Why?
- Do you think combining light from several telescopes is useful? Why or why not?
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