nova

n., pl., -vae (-vē), or -vas.
A star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then gradually returns to its original brightness over a period of weeks to years.

[New Latin (stēlla) nova, new (star), nova, feminine of Latin novus, new.]

For more information on nova, visit Britannica.com.

The sudden brightening of a previously inconspicuous star. The name, short for nova stella (new star), formerly included objects now classified as supernovae and as other kinds of cataclysmic variables. Classical novae now include only those events where the energy source is hydrogen fusion (burning) on the surface of a white dwarf in a close binary system and the white dwarf is not destroyed in the process.

A handful of novae are discovered each year in the Milky Way Galaxy, and the total rate is probably 20–50 per year. A comparable number are found in other, nearby galaxies. The system consists of a normal, hydrogen-burning star in a close orbit (periods of a few days or less) around a white dwarf or degenerate star. A stream of gas flows from the normal star into a disk around the white dwarf and then accretes onto its surface. Hydrogen gradually builds up there until it is hot and dense enough for nuclear burning, normally with carbon, oxygen, neon, or magnesium from the white dwarf itself acting as a catalyst. Any nuclear fuel ignited under degenerate conditions explodes, because energy released does not cause the gas to expand, so temperature rises rapidly. See also Binary star; White dwarf star.

Novae brighten in a few days and fade in months to years. The peak brightness is more than 100 times the solar luminosity, and the total energy release more than 10⁴⁵ ergs (10³⁸ joules). Novae recur every 10⁴–10⁵ years. See also Cataclysmic variable; Light curves; Variable star.

---

A minicomputer series from Data General. When introduced in 1969, it was the first 16-bit mini to use four CPU accumulators, quite advanced for its time. Novas and its RDOS operating system were used extensively in the OEM marketplace.

Download Computer Desktop Encyclopedia to your iPhone/iTouch

(noh-vuh)

In astronomy, the appearance of a new star in the sky (nova is Latin for “new”). Novae are usually associated with the last stages in the life of a star. (See supernova.)

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
n. - nova

Nederlands (Dutch)
nova (soort ster)

Français (French)
n. - nova

Deutsch (German)
n. - Nova, neuer Stern

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (αστρον.) νεολαμπής (αστήρ), νόβα

Italiano (Italian)
nova

Português (Portuguese)
n. - estrela (f) nova, tipo de salmão defumado

Русский (Russian)
новая звезда

Español (Spanish)
n. - nova, tipo de estrella

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - nova

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
新星

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 新星

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 새로 생긴 별

idioms:

• nova Scotia    노바스코샤 (캐나다 남동부의 반도; 이를 포함하는 주; 주도 Halifax; (약) N.S.)

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 新星

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) المستسعر, نجم‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮כוכב הבוהק לפתע ושוקע, נובה‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.

nova	87 nova
77 nova	nova shroud