white dwarf
See the Southern Ring Nebula in 3D
Planetary nebula are some of nature's most stunning visual displays. The name is confusing since they're the remains of stars,…
This Supernova Lit Up the Sky in 1181. Here’s What it Looks Like Now
Historical astronomical records from China and Japan recorded a supernova explosion in the year 1181. It was in the constellation…
M87's Jet is Triggering Novae
Everyone loves a good mystery, and astronomers have just uncovered a new one in a nearby supermassive galaxy called M87.…
Did this Supernova Explode Twice?
All supernovae are exploding stars. But the nature of a supernova explosion varies quite a bit. One type, named Type…
These are the Fastest Stars in the Galaxy
Until recently, there were only ten known stars on trajectories that will allow them to escape the Milky Way Galaxy,…
The Mass of a Single Star (other than the Sun) has Been Directly Measured for the First Time
How do you measure an object's weight from a distance? You could guess at its distance and therefore derive its…
Two Stars Orbiting Each Other Every 51 Minutes. This Can’t End Well
We don't have to worry too much about our Sun. It can burn our skin, and it can emit potent…
Astronomers Finally Catch a Nova Detonating on a White Dwarf as it's Happening
On July 7, 2020, the X-ray instrument eROSITA captured an astronomical event that – until then – had only been…
If There are Dyson Spheres Around White Dwarfs, We Should be Able to Detect Them
Searching for Dyson spheres, rings, or swarms remains a preoccupation of many astronomers. If there are any out there, they…
A New Kind of Stellar Explosion Has Been Discovered: Micronovae
The most energetic explosions in the Universe come from stars called supernovae. These galactic bombs have the energy of about…