Part 11/13:
One of the most intriguing stars in this collection is V838 Monocerus, located about 20,000 light-years away. In 2002, it underwent a dramatic eruption, temporarily increasing in brightness by a factor of over a million. Its sudden brightening and subsequent dimming defied typical classifications of stellar outbursts.
Scientists have proposed several hypotheses for this event, from nova-like explosions to a stellar collision or a star engulfing its planets. Surrounding the star, a light echo phenomenon—where light reflects off surrounding dust—appears as expanding rings, offering a visual testament to the scale and complexity of stellar eruptions.