T Pyxidis is a recurrent nova
and nova remnant in the constellation Pyxis. It is a binary star system and its distance is estimated at 4,783 parsecs from Earth. It contains a Sun-like star and a white dwarf. Because of their close proximity and the larger mass of the white dwarf, the latter draws matter from the larger, less massive star. The influx of matter on the white dwarf's surface causes periodic thermonuclear explosions to occur.
AAVSO light curve of recurrent nova T Pyx from April 13 to May 6, 2011. Up is brighter and down is fainter.