Astronomers have captured unprecedented, detailed images of two stellar explosions — known as novae — within days of their eruption. The breakthrough provides direct evidence that these explosions are more complex than previously thought, with multiple outflows of material and, in some cases, dramatic delays in the ejection process.

The international study, published in Nature Astronomy, used a cutting-edge technique called interferometry at the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy, or CHARA, Array in California. This approach allowed scientists, including Michigan State University researcher Laura Chomiuk, to combine the light from multiple telescopes, achieving the sharp resolution needed to directly image the rapidly evolving explosions.

The findings challenge the long-held view that nova eruptions are single, impulsive events. Instead, they point to a variety of ejection pathways, including multiple outflows and delayed envelope release, reshaping our understanding of these cosmic blasts.