A star exploded June 25th in the southern constellation Vela, and it is already visible to the unaided eye (magnitude +4.8). Eliot Herman photographed V572 Velorum using a robotic telescope in the Rio Hurtado Valley of Chile:

Nova V572
© Taken by Eliot Herman on June 27, 2025 @ Rio Hurtado Valley, ChileTwo bright nova in recent days after a long drought. Both in southern sky. This one was discovered on June 25 2025 in Vela. Captured with iTelescope T72 in Chile. This nova is about mag 5.0.
"After a long drought, this is the second bright nova discovered this month," says Herman.

This appears to be a "classical nova." First documented by Chinese astronomers some 2000 years ago, these explosions occur in binary star systems. White dwarf stars steal gas from a bloated partner until the stolen fuel ignites in a sudden thermonuclear blast.

Novas that you can see with your unaided eye magnitude are uncommon. Typically, they appear no more than about once a year. However, in June 2025 there have been two such novas in quick succession : First V462 Lupi and now V572 Velorum. Southern sky watchers, submit your photos here.