What is V838 Monocerotis?
[[File:V838 Mon HST.jpg|thumb|V838 Monocerotis after growing in size.]] '''V838 Monocerotis''' is a [[red giant |red giant star]] in the [[Monoceros]] constellation. It is famous for undergoing a sudden growth in size in the year 2002. When it happened, the star became 3,190 times bigger than the [[Sun]]. However, it shrunk in size - bringing its size to only 380 times bigger than the Sun. It is 20,000 times brighter than the Sun. ==Sources== [https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_784.html] [[Category:Red giants]] [[Category:Variable stars]] {{Sci-stub}}