Luminous Red Nova - Characteristics

Characteristics

A luminous red nova has the following observed characteristics:

• The luminosity of the explosion is between that of a supernova (which is brighter) and a nova (dimmer).

• The visible light lasts for weeks or months, and is distinctively red in colour, becoming dimmer and redder over time. As the visible light dims, the infrared light grows and also lasts for an extended period of time, usually dimming and brightening a number of times.

• Infrared observations of M85 OT2006-1 have shown it to be quite cool for a star (slightly less than 1000 K). This may, or may not, be a characteristic shared by other luminous red novae.