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Nova Appears in the Night Sky

On August 14th something extraordinary happened in deep space. The remains of a dead star – a white dwarf – had been pulling hydrogen gas off of a neighbouring red giant star. The gas gathered around the white dwarf, before finally falling downwards onto the dead star causing a cataclysmic nuclear explosion that could be seen with the naked eye 50 trillion miles away! Such an explosion would make the entire world’s nuclear arsenal look like a tiny fire cracker by comparison. When this happened, the gas became so hot that it underwent nuclear fusion – the process that makes stars in the sky shine bright.

Since then, the white dwarf has been glowing like a new star in the sky, and can be spotted with the naked eye and binoculars. An event like this is called a nova, coming from the Latin stella nova or ‘new star’.

Astronomy Ireland’s David Moore photographed the nova recently, and you can view that image HERE.

At our Star-B-Q at the end of the month, we will have some of the most powerful telescopes in the country pointed at the nova in Delphinus, so that people can see the cataclysmic celestial event close-up with their own eyes!

The Star-B-Q takes place in Roundwood on August 31^st, and will feature excellent lectures by top astronomy speakers as well as a professionally-catered barbecue.

For more information on the nova and on the Star-B-Q, please visit www.astronomy.ie or call us on (01) 890 11 11.

TELESCOPE VOLUNTEERS WANTED

Would you like to take part in our Star-B-Q? We are looking for owners of any size or brand of telescope to come along and help out, particularly if you have an 8” telescope or larger. As a volunteer, you will receive two complimentary tickets so that you can bring a friend if you wish.

If you’d like to help out, please let us know what kind of telescope you plan to bring by replying to this email or calling us on (01) 890 11 11.

Astronomy Ireland
The world's most popular astronomy club
www.astronomy.ie

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