The Digital Press

Two bright novas, V462 Lupi and V572 Velorum, have appeared simultaneously in the night sky, likely the first such event visible to the naked eye in recorded history. These stellar explosions occurred in binary star systems and have been observed primarily from the Southern Hemisphere.

Why it matters: Seeing two classical novas at once is extremely rare, offering a unique opportunity to study these explosions closely.

The big picture: Novas result from white dwarfs accreting material from companion stars, leading to bright but temporary outbursts.

Stunning stat: V462 Lupi became over 3 million times brighter than its normal state, peaking at magnitude +5.5.

Commenters say: Many find it fascinating how quickly these novas have been documented online, contrasting with the anticipated but yet unseen T Coronae Borealis eruption.