Our universe is full of things that flicker and flare in the night. From the powerfully energetic gamma-ray bursts to out-bursting comets, these flashes are driven by all manner of physics. One of my favorite kinds of outbursts is the cataclysmic variable (CV). These systems consist of one compact white dwarf star that is gravitationally drawing material off a companion star. When the white dwarf builds up enough stolen material, it will detonate, and we can see the light show across the wavelengths of light. 

The Swift telescope is currently being used to find cataclysmic variable stars in the ultraviolet, and on June 21, they published the discovery of a system cataloged as TUVO-21aq. Located on the sky near the galaxy NGC4945, this is a galactic object that was found because Swift was looking at another galaxy. While not the most exciting cataclysmic variable ever discovered, this object shows that ultraviolet observations can uncover unknown objects in the background of other observational targets.

Discovering CVs isn’t just for the pros with the space telescopes. It is also something that is done by backyard astronomers. From finding new outbursts to monitoring for the newest outburst of known CVs, dedicated folks with small scopes can play an important role.

If you are a person with a telescope and a camera, you can take part in this science. Check out the American Association of Variable Star observers to learn more at AAVSO.org.

More Information

Astronomers detect a new cataclysmic variable system (Phys.org)

“TUVO-21acq: a new cataclysmic variable discovered through a UV outburst,” David Modiano et al., accepted to Astronomy & Astrophysics (preprint)