Star snapped before and after nova explosion

[Notebook]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37098317

Astronomers have captured rare images of a tiny star before, during and after it exploded as a "classical nova".

In this type of binary system, a white dwarf sucks gas from a much bigger partner star until it blows up - about every 10,000 to one million years.

Now, a Polish team has caught one in the act using a telescope in Chile.