Nova

Origin

New Latin, feminine of Latin novus new

• 1927

Definition

• 1: a star that suddenly increases its light output tremendously and then fades away to its former obscurity in a few months or years

Description

A nova (plural novae) is a cataclysmic nuclear explosion in a star caused by the accretion of hydrogen on to the surface of a white dwarf star, which ignites and starts nuclear fusion in a runaway manner. Novae are not to be confused with supernovae or luminous red novae.[1]