white dwarf

Soon a ‘new’ star will light up the sky and you can see it for yourself

by

A binary star system in the constellation Corona Borealis consists of a white dwarf pulling material from a neighboring red giant, leading to exceptionally bright explosions every 79 to 80 years. (NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center – image credit) Starlight, star bright, will there be a new star tonight? That’s the question astronomers are waiting … Read more

These supernovae create a storm and contribute to cosmic life and death

by

Astronomers have discovered a previously unknown source of cosmic dust. Why is it important to detect this dust? Well, these particles actually act as building blocks for stars. The international team found that such dust can be created by a type of cosmic explosion that occurs when a dead white dwarf star removes material from … Read more