*Description*:> This animation shows the sudden brightening of the star V838 Mon as it happened on Jan 2002. The star got much brighter because it expanded to a red super giant. In the foreground is a blue companion star. Technical facts about this news release: About the Object Object Name: V838 Monocerotis Object Description: Nova-like object Position (J2000): R.A. 07h 04m 05s Dec. ?03° 50' 50" Constellation: Monoceros Distance: The star is ~20,000 light-years (~6 kiloparsecs) away. Dimensions: Each individual image is 82 arcseconds (7.8 light-years or 2.4 parsecs) wide. About the Data Data Description: These data are from the HST archived proposals 9587, 9588, and 9694. The science team is composed of H.E. Bond (STScI), A. Henden (USNO), Z. Levay (STScI), N. Panagia (STScI), W. Sparks (STScI), S. Starrfield (Arizona State Univ.), R.M. Wagner (LBTO), R.L.M. Corradi (ING), U. Munari (INAF). Instrument: ACS/WFC Exposure Date(s): 2002: April 30; May 20/21; Sept 2; Oct 28; Dec 17 Exposure Time: 6.3 hours total over a time span of 8 months Filters: F435W ("B"), F606W ("V"), F814W ("I") About the Image Image Credit: NASA and H.E. Bond (STScI) Release Date: March 26, 2003 Orientation: Light Echo From Star V838 Monocerotis - October 28, 2002 [ http://imgsrc.hubblesite.org/hu/db/2003/10/images/d/formats/compass_large_web.jpg ] *News Release Number:*: STScI-2003-10b
