noun
- Plural of nova; a star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness and then gradually fades back to its original brightness.
Usage: astronomy; technical
Examples
- Astronomers observed several novas in the Andromeda Galaxy last year.
- The brightness of novas can increase by thousands of times in just a few days.
- Historical records document novas that were visible to the naked eye.
- Modern telescopes have made it easier to detect novas in distant galaxies.
- The study of novas helps scientists understand stellar explosions and binary star systems.