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USS NOVA Namesake: Difference between revisions
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(New page: Image:Nova_namesake.jpg A nova (also known as a classical supernova) is an enormous nuclear explosion caused by the accretion of hydrogen onto the surface of a white dwarf star. When ...) |
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[[Image:Nova_namesake.jpg]] A nova (also known as a classical supernova) is an enormous nuclear explosion caused by the accretion of hydrogen onto the surface of a white dwarf star. | [[Image:Nova_namesake.jpg]] | ||
A nova (also known as a classical supernova) is an enormous nuclear explosion caused by the accretion of hydrogen onto the surface of a white dwarf star. | |||
When a white dwarf has a close companion star, the companion will often begin to have its outer atmosphere drawn away from it by the white dwarf's gravity as the companion star ages and expands into a red giant. The captured gases consist primarily of hydrogen and helium, the two principal constituents of matter in the universe. The gases are compacted on the white dwarf's surface by its enormous gravity, compressed and heated to enormous temperatures as additional material is drawn in. Eventually, the pressures and temperatures within the hydrogen layer becomes great enough to trigger a nuclear fusion reaction that rapidly converts a large amount of the hydrogen into helium and other heavier elements. | When a white dwarf has a close companion star, the companion will often begin to have its outer atmosphere drawn away from it by the white dwarf's gravity as the companion star ages and expands into a red giant. The captured gases consist primarily of hydrogen and helium, the two principal constituents of matter in the universe. The gases are compacted on the white dwarf's surface by its enormous gravity, compressed and heated to enormous temperatures as additional material is drawn in. Eventually, the pressures and temperatures within the hydrogen layer becomes great enough to trigger a nuclear fusion reaction that rapidly converts a large amount of the hydrogen into helium and other heavier elements. | ||