Z Canis Majoris

Z CMa is a pre-main-sequence binary system composed of an embedded Herbig Be star, undergoing photometric outbursts, and a FU Orionis star. The Herbig Be component underwent the largest optical outburst in its recorded history in 2008, with another large outburst in early 2011. The origin of these outbursts are thought to be events of enhanced mass accretion, similar to those occurring in EX Ori and FU Ori stars.