Nova Cygni 1992
Explanation:
In 1992 a tremendous explosion occurred in the
constellation of
Cygnus.
Dubbed Nova Cygni 1992, this event most probably occurred in an
accretion disk binary system. Astronomers
hypothesize that this system's
white dwarf
had so much gas dumped onto it's surface that conditions became ripe for
nuclear fusion.
The resulting thermonuclear detonation blasted much of
the surrounding gas into an expanding shell. The
Hubble Space Telescope
photographed this expanding shell in 1994. Nova Cygni 1992 was the
brightest nova in recent history - at its brightest it could be seen
without a telescope. It was observed in every part
of the
electromagnetic spectrum.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
