Doomed 'cannibal' star could soon explode in a supernova so bright it would be visible during the day
Betelgeuse may have competition for the most exciting star about to go nova near Earth. Astronomers have discovered the secret of a strange star system that has baffled them for years, finding it contains a dead star about to erupt after overfeeding on a stellar companion. The supernova explosion of this cosmic cannibal could be as bright as the moon, making it visible with the naked eye over Earth even in broad daylight. The system in question is the double star V Sagittae located around 10,000 light-years from Earth, containing a white dwarf stellar remnant and its victim companion star, which orbit each other roughly twice every Earth day. The new research and the revelation of this white dwarf's imminent catastrophic fate answer questions about V Sagittae that have lingered for 123 years! "V Sagittae is no ordinary star system - it's the brightest of its kind and has baffled experts since it was first discovered in 1902," team member and University of Southampto...