A nova has flared up in Cassiopeia. A nova is caused when a white dwarf in a binary pair has been drawing material from its companion star. A point is reached where a thermonuclear reaction starts and the white dwarf flares up for a few weeks and is visible right across the galaxy. It is not to be confused with a supernova which is an altogether less common and more violent affair. This nova is shining at about magnitude 7.5, that means it is just too dim to see by eye but easily visible in binoculars. It is also fairly easy to find and the link below gives some clear instructions on how to locate it. Fortunately it is close to the open cluster Messier 50, and in binoculars it is just below and to the left and in the same field. These are fairly rare events, astronomers estimate that there are around 50 in the Milky Way each year but only a small proportion are visible from Earth. There may be some clear nights this week so get your binoculars and go nova hunting!<\/p>\n