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The Outburst: V838 Mon
This animation shows the sudden brightening of the star V838 Mon as it happened on Jan 2002. The star got much brighter because it expanded to a red super giant. In the foreground is a blue companion star.
- Release DateMarch 26, 2003
- Science ReleaseHubble Watches Light from Mysterious Erupting Star Reverberate Through Space
- Credit
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Light Echo from Star V838 Monocerotis
This sequence of pictures from the NASA Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys dramatically demonstrates the reverberation of light through space caused by an unusual stellar outburst in January 2002. A burst of light from the bizarre star is spreading into space...
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Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
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Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov