Final answer:
Novae and supernovae are astronomical events involving explosive brightness increases in stars. A nova involves a controlled explosion on a white dwarf's surface in a binary system, while a supernova, particularly Type Ia, results from a white dwarf reaching a critical mass and a Type II results from the core collapse of a massive star. Type Ia supernovae serve as "standard bulbs" for cosmic distance measurements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves sorting the properties of novae and supernovae, and to find those that are characteristic of both phenomena. A nova event is typically associated with a binary star system where material from a companion star is accreted onto a white dwarf, leading to a thermonuclear explosion on the dwarf's surface. This is far less dramatic than a supernova and does not result in the destruction of the white dwarf.
A Type Ia supernova is also related to a binary star system, specifically one where a white dwarf accumulates enough matter from a companion star to reach a critical mass and undergoes a catastrophic thermonuclear explosion that completely destroys the white dwarf.
Alternatively, Type II supernovae occur at the end of a massive star's life when its core collapses, leading to a colossal explosion. After a Type II supernova, what remains is a neutron star or a black hole.
While novae are relatively common and far less luminous, supernovae, particularly Type Ia, are extremely bright and can be used as "standard bulbs" to measure cosmic distances due to their consistent luminosity.