Anticipated Stellar Event to Illuminate the Night Sky with a 'New Star'

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According to NASA, astronomers are eagerly anticipating the appearance of a "new star" in the night sky sometime between now and September. This celestial event is expected to be a rare and unforgettable sight.

A nova is a sudden, brief explosion from a collapsed star called a white dwarf. It is different from a supernova, which is the explosive death of a massive star.

The upcoming brightening event, known as a nova, will take place in the Corona Borealis constellation of the Milky Way. This constellation is situated between the Boötes and Hercules constellations.

T Coronae Borealis, also known as the "Blaze Star," is a binary system located in the Corona Borealis. It consists of a dead white dwarf star and an aging red giant star. Red giants are formed when stars run out of hydrogen for nuclear fusion and start to die.

In approximately 5 to 6 billion years, our sun will go through a similar transformation and become a red giant. It will expand and release layers of material, possibly affecting the inner planets of the solar system. The fate of Earth is uncertain, according to NASA.

Every 79 years, T Coronae Borealis undergoes a spectacular explosive event.

The stars in the orbiting pair interact violently because they are close to each other. As the red giant heats up, it becomes unstable and sheds its outer layers onto the white dwarf star.

This exchange of matter causes the white dwarf's atmosphere to heat up gradually. Eventually, it triggers a "runaway thermonuclear reaction," leading to a nova, as shown in the animation by the space agency.

NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

Keeping an eye on the changing sky

Astronomers are currently monitoring T Coronae Borealis for any signs of another explosive outburst, following the last eruption in 1946.

According to William J. Cooke from NASA, most novae occur suddenly and without warning. However, T Coronae Borealis is known as one of the 10 recurring novae in the galaxy. Based on the previous eruption in 1946, it is expected that the star will dim for a little over a year before rapidly becoming brighter. The star started to dim in March of the previous year, leading some researchers to anticipate another nova event between now and September. However, the exact timing remains uncertain, with a window of several months based on current knowledge.

Located 3,000 light-years from Earth, the star system is usually too dim to be seen without any equipment. However, it is anticipated to become as bright as Polaris, also known as the North Star.

When the nova reaches its peak brightness, it will seem like a new star has suddenly emerged. This star will be visible for a few days without any equipment, and for a little over a week with binoculars. After that, it will gradually dim and vanish from sight for about 80 years.

The nova will appear in a small arc between the Boötes and Hercules constellations, and will be visible from the Northern Hemisphere.

The nova is expected to appear in the Corona Borealis constellation, also known as the Northern Crown.

The nova is expected to appear in the Corona Borealis constellation, also known as the Northern Crown.

NASA

Astronomers will use the Hubble Space Telescope to observe the nova. They will also study the celestial event through X-ray and ultraviolet light with the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory in space.

According to Cooke, studying recurring novae like T Coronae Borealis is important. It helps scientists understand the mass transfer between stars in these systems. Additionally, it provides insights into the thermonuclear runaway that occurs on the surface of the white dwarf when the star goes nova.

The NASAUniverse account on X, which was previously known as Twitter, will share updates about the outburst and how it looks.

Cooke remembered the last nova he saw in 1975, called Nova Cygni, which had a brightness similar to what we anticipate from T Coronae Borealis. Nova Cygni is not predicted to undergo another explosion.

Cooke, a teenage astronomy enthusiast about to begin college, recalled being outside on the night of August 29. While gazing at the sky, he noticed that the constellation of Cygnus appeared to be off; there was a star that seemed out of place. Despite receiving some teasing from friends who doubted his observation, he convinced them to take a look and together they realized they were witnessing a nova! This unforgettable moment solidified Cooke's decision to pursue a career in astronomy. He used to jest that only a star exploding could compel him to endure undergraduate physics.

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming nova event in the Corona Borealis constellation is a thrilling prospect for astronomers and stargazers alike. The sudden appearance of a new star will be a rare and unforgettable sight, offering a glimpse into the violent processes that occur in the universe. The fact that T Coronae Borealis is a recurring nova makes it even more intriguing, as scientists can study the evolution of these systems over time.

The anticipation surrounding this event is palpable, and astronomers are eagerly monitoring the star for any signs of an outburst. The Hubble Space Telescope and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory will be used to observe the nova in detail, providing valuable insights into the thermonuclear reactions that occur on the surface of the white dwarf. By studying recurring novae like T Coronae Borealis, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the mass transfer between stars and the processes that lead to these explosive events.