Public domain
Firework Nova
From the collection of NASA Image and Video Library. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Nova Stars are essentially giant fusion reactions occurring in the vacuum of space. Because stars have so much mass, they possess powerful gravitational force—but they don’t collapse because of the outward force generated by nuclear fusion, continually converting hydrogen atoms to helium. Sometimes stars begin orbiting each other, forming a binary star system. Typically this involves a white dwarf star and a red giant.
NASA Image and Video Library’s own descriptionCredit lineFirework Nova. NASA/GSFC, 2017-12-08. Public domain. ID: GSFC_20171208_Archive_e000693.