supernova impostor

English

Etymology

From being mistaken for a supernova.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɒstə(ɹ)

Noun

supernova impostor (plural supernova impostors)

1. (astronomy) An extremely energetic stellar flare event that is bright enough to be mistaken for a supernova, but through later spectral analysis is revealed to not be one.

Coordinate terms

• failed supernova
• supernova
• hypernova
• nova