KUBANAstrophysicists have discovered a star in the neighboring Andromeda galaxy.
There are binary star systems in space in which one of the components is a white dwarf—a compact but dense remnant of a primary star.
The new object was assigned a number M31N 2008-12a, while it is noted that its formation occurred in 2008, and it was accompanied by a small explosion, which in astronomical circles are usually called “explosions of a fresh star.”
It is noted that a dwarf in a similar state, being a small and fairly dense body, gradually draws the material it needs from its companion (the star) - helium and hydrogen, which accumulate in a thick outer layer near the white dwarf itself, and when the layer becomes thick, a thermonuclear combustion reaction can gradually begin.
The type of flare described above is often called "novae," but there are also novae that flare very frequently, which is why they are called "pulsating." Scientists have given the resulting object a name. M31N 2008-12aBetween 2009 and 2014, it exploded as many as 5 times.
At a national astronomy meeting in Llandudno, UK, the authors of the new study reported the results of their own observations of the object using the Liverpool Telescope and NASA's Swift X-ray Observatory.
Astrologers claim this white dwarf has already reached a critical size. This, scientists assert, could soon, in cosmic time (several hundred thousand years), lead to a much larger explosion.
The brightness of the explosion will be equal to the glow of millions of stars.
