The nova outburst of U Scorpii observed in 2010

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A supernova is a star that suddenly increases its brightness by orders of magnitude and then fades back to its former luminosity within weeks. The explosion occurs when a thermonuclear blast takes place on the surface of a white dwarf star, ejecting stellar material into the surrounding space. U Scorpii in the constellation of Scorpius is a binary system consisting of a red giant star and a small white dwarf. Its most recent supernova eruption was observed on January 28, 2010. The simulation model is based on a three-dimensional hydrodynamic study that tracks the first 18 hours of the outburst. An animation of this model can be viewed here. The red giant is visible at the center of the scene; the white dwarf (where the explosion occurs) is too small to be seen. The material ejected during the eruption is marked in blue-white.