Posted on 06/03/2015 3:14:10 PM PDT by BenLurkin
On June 20, 1670, a new star appeared in the evening sky that gave 17th century astronomers pause. Eventually peaking out at +3rd magnitude, the ruddy new star in the modern day constellation of Vulpecula the Fox was visible for almost two years before vanishing from sight.
The exact nature of Nova Vulpeculae 1670 has always remained a mystery. The event has often been described as a classic nova… but if it was indeed a garden variety recurrent nova in our own Milky Way galaxy, then why haven’t we seen further outbursts? And why did it stay so bright, for so long?
Now, recent findings from the European Southern Observatory announced in the journal Nature this past March reveal something even more profound: the Nova of 1670 may have actually been the result of a rare stellar collision.
...
ESO researchers used an instrument known as the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment telescope (APEX) based on the high Chajnantor plateau in Chile to probe the remnant nebula from the 1670 event at submillimeter wavelengths. They found that the mass and isotopic composition of the resulting nebula was very uncharacteristic of a standard nova event.
A best fit model for the 1670 event is a rare stellar merger, with two main sequence stars smashing together and exploding in a grand head on collision, leaving the resulting nebula we see today. This event also resulted in a newly recognized category of star known as a “red transient” or luminous red nova.
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
No riddle, the Nova got it's doors blown off by a Road Runner running a 440 Hemi with a six pack.
Nova of 1970
Whatever. How many stars, or planets, or craters, or asteroids, or galaxies, are named after lesbian, gay, or bisexual astronomers, that’s what’s important.
It is said that they had a hard time selling those in Spanish-speaking countries because “no va” in Spanish means “it doesn’t go.”
Pelosi
I had one like that. Businessman’s special. Stovebolt and a powerglide, radio delete plate, black vinyl interior. power steering the only option.
CC
In latin america they were the “Chevy II”.
CC
An urban myth that is not true.
I'd like to see that.
Well, Pluto for sure.
That was interesting!
Yeah, a 440 hemi????
“... a 440 Hemi with a six pack.
I’d like to see that.”
The old J.C. Whitney catalogs of the day had six pack kits for lots of different engines. They were a sight to see, indeed.
Even in Space there are lousy drivers.
This is a real car. My mother had a 72’ Nova with a racing engine. Not what my father ordered but my mom became known as the “Little Old Lady of Ranchleigh” (just outside of Pikesville, Md.
She left grown men crying in her dust. Go, Mom, Go!
I had a friend with a circa70 charger with a 440 magnum and a six pack.
Me? Just a six pack. On #2 right now.
Uh, either a 440 6-pack (390 gross HP), or a 426 Hemi (425 gross HP - which is a large understatement, it was more like 490 HP) with dual quads - which beats the crap out of a mere six-pack. Either is a fine car, and very expensive right now in any kind of decent condition, but there ain't no such beast as a 440 Hemi with a six-pack.
Oh, BTW, I saw an auction a few months ago of a pristine ‘71 Hemicuda convertible with a 4-speed, one of 11 manufactured - and no one knows the fate of the other 10. It sold for $3.5 million.
Also FYI, today’s Hemicudas (even sans the supercharger) can nearly run rings around the older ones, get about twice the mileage and damned near never rust...for about $65K brand new, with a guarantee.
But the old ones were REALLY special in their day.
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