noun
- a star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then gradually returns to its original brightness
Usage: astronomy
Examples
- Astronomers discovered a nova in the constellation Cassiopeia.
- The nova was visible to the naked eye for several weeks.
- Scientists studied the nova’s light spectrum to understand the explosion.
- A nova occurs when a white dwarf star accumulates matter from a companion star.
- The ancient Chinese recorded observations of a nova in 1181.
- Unlike a supernova, a nova does not destroy the star completely.