NASA's Hubble Maps 3-D Structure of Ejected Material Around Erupting Star

NASA's Hubble Maps 3-D Structure of Ejected Material Around Erupting Star

06/04/2013 12:00 AM EDT

A flash of light from a stellar outburst has provided a rare look at the 3-D structure of material ejected by an erupting nova.

Astronomers used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to observe the light emitted by the close double-star system T Pyxidis, or T Pyx, a recurring nova, during its latest outburst in April 2011.