Novae are the second largest explosions in our universe. They are thermonuclear explosions on the surface of a white dwarf that is accreting material from a close companion star. They still surprise researchers because of their diversity, unexpected and sometimes unexplained behavior.

In this talk at the Ross School Tennis Center, Dr. Glenda Denicolo will explain the general characteristics of the nova phenomenon, and go over some curious nova examples. The interesting (but no-need-to-worry) question of what would happen to us if a nova occurred nearby will also be addressed.

Dr. Denicolo was born in Brazil. She has a BSc in Physics from the Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, UFPR-Brazil, a MSc in Astronomy from the National Observatory, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and a PhD in Astronomy from the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, UK. Dr. Denicolo has been teaching physics, and occasionally astronomy, at Suffolk County Community College since 2007.

Following this talk and weather permitting Montauk Observatory telescopes will be available for celestial observations.