(ORDO NEWS) — V838 Unicorn (hereinafter simply V838) is an unusual variable star , 19,000 light-years away from Earth ; is an ideal object for studying the unusual phenomenon of “light echo”.
This phenomenon is a process of multiple reflections of light from interstellar dust with its subsequent propagation through outer space.
In January 2002, the brightness of V838 suddenly increased and the star became 600,000 times brighter than our Sun. The reason for this temporary activity is still unknown.
Light from V838, escaping during the outburst, is sent on a journey through a “bubble” of interstellar dust that surrounds the star. It takes several years for light to find a breach and escape into outer space.
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope , observing V838, captured every reflection of light off the dust to create a holistic view of the “bubble” surrounding the variable star.
The picture attached to the post is the result of many years of observation of the same region.
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