Astronomers have captured images of two stellar explosions—known as novae—within days of their eruption and in unprecedented detail. The breakthrough provides direct evidence that these explosions are more complex than previously thought, with multiple outflows of material and, in some cases, dramatic delays in the ejection process.
The international study, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, used a cutting-edge technique called interferometry at the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA Array) in California. This approach allowed scientists to combine the light from multiple telescopes, achieving the sharp resolution needed to directly image the rapidly evolving explosions.
“The images give us a close-up view of how material is ejected away from the star during the explosion,” said Georgia State’s Gail Schaefer, director of the CHARA Array. “Catching these transient events requires flexibility to adapt our nighttime schedule as new targets of opportunity are discovered.”
