'Born-again' star offers rare chance to watch stellar evolution in real time

edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Add as preferred source The rapid brightening of Sakurai's object (green circle) allows astronomers to study the final phases of the stellar evolution in only a few decades. The left and right panels show the brightening. The middle panel is an image obtained with the radio telescope ALMA, showing the material ejected after the star re-ignited. The material currently extends over a size similar to our entire solar system. Credit: Stefan Kimeswenger, University of Innsbruck; Peter van Hoof, Royal Observatory Belgium. Astronomers have confirmed that one of the fastest-changing stars ever observed has entered a new stage of its evolution, offering a rare opportunity to watch a star's life unfold on human timescales.