Skip to main content
Smithsonian sunburst Smithsonian 3D Digitization
  • Explore
  • Collections
  • About
    • Analytics Dashboard
    • Educator Tools
    • Internships
    • Open Source Resources
    • How to Use the 3D Viewer
    • Videos
  • Labs
  • Sponsors

U Scorpii

Object Details

Description
A nova is a star that suddenly becomes tens to hundreds of times brighter, then fades to its former brightness in just a few months. In these nova systems, a white dwarf — the compact remains of a Sun-like star that has burned all of its fuel — pulls material from a nearby companion star until enough accumulates to trigger a thermonuclear explosion on the white dwarf’s surface. The model of such a nova outburst of an object called U Scorpii is based on a scientific simulation, informed by observations. It explores the first 18 hours after the last outburst observed on January 28, 2010 in the system. Astronomers have seen U Scorpii - which is about 40,000 light years away from us - erupt about once every decade, so this system is due for another outburst very soon.
Notes
Description Credit: Credit: INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo/S.Orlando; NASA/CXC/SAO/A. Jubett, et al.
Data Source
Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
Record ID
dpo_3d_200118
Metadata Usage
CC0

Related Object Groups

  • chandra x-ray thumbnail

    Chandra X-ray Observatory

This image is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Open Access page.
We also suggest that users:
  • Give attribution to the Smithsonian.
  • Contribute back any modifications or improvements.
  • Do not mislead others or misrepresent the datasets or its sources.
  • Be responsible.
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Voyager GitHub
  • Cook GitHub
  • Digitization Program Office
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Link to homepage

Back to Top