Scientists are studying the violent outburst of a dead star as it tries to fire back into life.
The white dwarf star in the Ophiuchus constellation has exhausted its own nuclear fuel but is now stealing it from a neighbouring giant.
More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4885700.stm
I am at work so can't check any charts - Does anyone know if this star is visible from our night sky at the moment? If so, it might be a nice image for the CCD Imagers amongst us to try and get? A before and after image would be great.
OK, the gauntlet has been thrown down !!
This would be tough for me to get from my garden... The constellation rises in the East approx 11.30pm & by approx' 4.30am the middle of the constellation is only about 36deg altitude at 170 deg azimuth - It's quite a large constellation & some of it barely reaches 11 deg above the horizon. I don't know the exact coords of the star so can't check precisely where it is...
John
I think I found it - It's designated RS Ophiuchi:
Apparent RA: 17h 50m 33.78s
Apparent Dec: -6° 42' 49.1"
Still too hard from garden.... :-(
Cheers, John