novae
Suddenly brightening stars
Novae is the plural of nova, a star that suddenly increases dramatically in brightness before fading over weeks or months.
The term comes from Latin for "new," since these events were once thought to be new stars appearing in the sky.
Astronomers distinguish novae from supernovae, which are far more energetic and destructive stellar explosions.
Violent sudden release
- outburstSudden emotional release
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- blastSudden forceful burst
- thermonuclearInvolving nuclear fusion heat
ignition · ejection · shockwave · fireball · cataclysm · violent · catastrophic
Intrinsic brightness of source
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- photometryMeasuring light intensity
- outburstSudden emotional release
- ejectaMaterial forcibly discharged
photosphere · gamma-ray · discovery · telescope · spectrograph
Exhausted star's compact corpse
- binary systemNumeration with two values
- accretionGrowth through external addition
- red giantAged star with cooled, expanded envelope
- progenitorAncestor or originator
Gravitationally bound stellar mass
- nebulaInterstellar gas formation
- Milky WayGalaxy containing Earth
- AndromedaNearest spiral galaxy
- Magellanic CloudsNearby dwarf galaxies visible south
extragalactic · star cluster · planetary nebula · deep sky · celestial · astronomical · cosmological
Intensely bright or gifted
- radiantEmitting light or joy
- blazingBurning very brightly
- dazzlingOverwhelmingly bright or impressive
- luminousEmitting or reflecting light
incandescent · flaring · brightening · resplendent · effulgent · gleaming · vivid · intense
Lasting very briefly
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- temporaryLimited in duration
- short-livedLasting only briefly
- evanescentTending to vanish quickly
fading · decaying · dissipating · transitory · impermanent · variable · erupting · recurring
eruption
Violent sudden release
- outburstSudden emotional release
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- blastSudden forceful burst
thermonuclear · ignition · ejection · shockwave · fireball · cataclysm · violent · catastrophic
luminosity
Intrinsic brightness of source
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- photometryMeasuring light intensity
- outburstSudden emotional release
ejecta · photosphere · gamma-ray · discovery · telescope · spectrograph
white dwarf
Exhausted star's compact corpse
- binary systemNumeration with two values
- accretionGrowth through external addition
- red giantAged star with cooled, expanded envelope
progenitor · nuclear fusion · main sequence · variable star · magnitude
galaxy
Gravitationally bound stellar mass
Magellanic Clouds · extragalactic · star cluster · planetary nebula · deep sky · celestial · astronomical · cosmological
brilliant
Intensely bright or gifted
luminous · incandescent · flaring · brightening · resplendent · effulgent · gleaming · vivid · intense · spectacular
ephemeral
Lasting very briefly
- fleetingPassing very quickly
- temporaryLimited in duration
- short-livedLasting only briefly
evanescent · fading · decaying · dissipating · transitory · impermanent · variable · erupting · recurring · cyclical
- Nova ScotiaEastern Canadian maritime province
- bossa novaLyrical Brazilian jazz-samba blend
- Chevy NovaAmerican compact automobile
- Terra NovaLatin for new land
- Fashion NovaFast-fashion e-commerce company
innovation, innovative, renovate, renovation, innovator, innovate, nova, supernova, renovator