Star, White Dwarf and Nova – Dawn of Catastrophe

This illustration is called Cataclysmic Dawn. It depicts what the future might look like if humans settled on a planet around a binary star system.

Here, the white dwarf steals matter from its partner star. This stealing creates an accretion disk around the white dwarf. At this point, a nova will most likely occur. Novae are relatively unknown, and when heard of, they are often confused with supernovae. This is a mistake to avoid. Novae should not be confused with supernovae. Novae are nuclear explosions that occur on the surface of a white dwarf, typically in binary star systems like the one shown in the illustration, as a result of the accretion of matter and the accumulation of hydrogen on its surface. The duration of these explosions is uncertain. They can last from a few hours to several years. While not as powerful as a supernova, they can significantly increase the white dwarf's brightness.

After a nova occurs, the white dwarf returns to its original state. However, this isn't necessarily a one-time occurrence. It can happen again. These are called recurrent novae.

Illustration by Mark A. Garlick