  We report the dramatic mid-infrared brightening between 2004 and 2006 of HOPS
383, a deeply embedded protostar adjacent to NGC 1977 in Orion. By 2008, the
source became a factor of 35 brighter at 24 microns with a brightness increase
also apparent at 4.5 microns. The outburst is also detected in the
submillimeter by comparing APEX/SABOCA to SCUBA data, and a scattered-light
nebula appeared in NEWFIRM K_s imaging. The post-outburst spectral energy
distribution indicates a Class 0 source with a dense envelope and a luminosity
between 6 and 14 L_sun. Post-outburst time-series mid- and far-infrared
photometry shows no long-term fading and variability at the 18% level between
2009 and 2012. HOPS 383 is the first outbursting Class 0 object discovered,
pointing to the importance of episodic accretion at early stages in the star
formation process. Its dramatic rise and lack of fading over a six-year period
hint that it may be similar to FU Ori outbursts, although the luminosity
appears to be significantly smaller than the canonical luminosities of such
objects.
