description GK Persei Nebula Overview
The GK Persei Nebula, also called the Firework Nebula, is an expanding shell of gas surrounding the binary system GK Persei in the constellation Perseus. The shell was produced by Nova Persei 1901, a thermonuclear eruption on the surface of a white dwarf that was observed as a bright classical nova. The remnant lies about 1,500 light-years from Earth and continues to expand.
help GK Persei Nebula FAQ
What created the GK Persei Nebula?
The shell was expelled during Nova Persei 1901, a thermonuclear nova eruption on the surface of a white dwarf. It is therefore a nova remnant, not a shell produced by a supernova. [Chandra research](https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0503131)
Why is GK Persei called the Firework Nebula?
The expanding bubbles and knots around GK Persei resemble bursts of fireworks. The shell was detected soon after the 1901 outburst, with material moving at speeds reported up to roughly 1,200 kilometers per second. [GK Persei overview](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GK_Persei)
When did Nova Persei 1901 become visible?
Thomas David Anderson first observed it on 22 February 1901, when it was already around magnitude 2.7. It later reached approximately magnitude 0.2, making it one of the brightest novae seen in modern times. [GK Persei overview](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GK_Persei)
What kind of binary system is inside the Firework Nebula?
GK Persei contains a white dwarf and a subgiant companion in a close binary system. Its orbital period is about 1.997 days, and material transferred to the white dwarf fuels nova eruptions. [GK Persei overview](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GK_Persei)
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