What is the term for a white dwarf star that experiences a sudden, temporary increase in brightness due to nuclear fusion of surface hydrogen?
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Nova
A nova occurs in a binary star system when a white dwarf pulls hydrogen from its companion star, triggering a nuclear explosion on its surface. Unlike a supernova, the star is not destroyed in the process.
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- What term describes a nuclear explosion on the surface of a white dwarf that causes a sudden increase in brightness without destroying the star?