The rapid increase in brightness of GOTO0650 allowed researchers to study the star during its early evolutionary stages.

This discovery underscores the power of citizen science, demonstrating how volunteers can contribute to significant astronomical findings that might otherwise be overlooked.

The Kilonova Seekers project, which is approaching its two-year anniversary, has engaged over 3,500 volunteers in analyzing real-time data from the Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) project.

Volunteers played a crucial role in this discovery by identifying GOTO0650 as an object of interest within just 3.5 hours of its observation, enabling rapid follow-up from space observatories.

The swift actions of these citizen scientists allowed for comprehensive observations, leading to the classification of GOTO0650 as a 'period bouncer', a rare type of cataclysmic variable star.

GOTO0650 is classified as a cataclysmic variable star, which experiences explosive outbursts due to material from a companion star accumulating on a white dwarf.

This star is part of a binary system and is surrounded by a disc of material that ignited, resulting in the observed explosion.

The Kilonova Seekers project signifies a shift in astronomical discovery, allowing for the identification of such events in hours rather than years.

The findings regarding GOTO0650 were published in the Astronomy and Astrophysics journal, marking a notable achievement for both the professional astronomers and the volunteers.

This significant find was made possible through the collaboration of astronomers at the University of Warwick and citizen scientists participating in the Kilonova Seekers initiative.

Volunteers from around the globe, including countries like Bulgaria, Brazil, and Mexico, have expressed how their involvement in the project has provided personal fulfillment and a meaningful distraction from their challenges.

The Kilonova Seekers project has made a remarkable discovery by identifying a rare exploding star named GOTO0650, which brightened an astonishing 2,500 times in just two days.