Witness a stellar explosion with naked eyes
A rare stellar explosion called a classical nova just made the star V462 Lup suddenly visible to the naked eye across much of the Southern Hemisphere.
On June 12, 2025, its brightness was recorded at magnitude 8.7, and it later increased to 5.7 by June 18—a big enough boost for stargazers to spot it without a telescope.
How to see V462 Lup
If you're south of 40°N latitude, look up this June—V462 Lup is just bright enough to catch with your eyes alone, but it may fade soon.
Finder charts from astronomers like Bum-Suk Yeom can help you pinpoint its spot in the constellation Lupus.
What is a classical nova?
This kind of nova happens when a white dwarf in a binary system pulls in material from its companion star until it triggers a sudden thermonuclear blast.
The result: a temporary burst of brightness—but the stars themselves survive and could flare up again someday.
Why this nova is special
Naked-eye novae like V462 Lup are pretty rare (about once a year) and help astronomers learn more about how stars evolve together.
This latest outburst has both scientists and skywatchers excited to catch the show before it dims away.