According to Nasa.gov, as of September 2024, astronomers are waiting for a star called T Coronae Borealis (T CrB) to explode in a bright nova. This explosion could happen any time now. When it does, the star will become as bright as the North Star, making it easy to see with the naked eye. T CrB is located in the constellation Corona Borealis, between the bright stars Vega and Arcturus.
T CrB, also called Blaze Star, is about 3,000 light years away from Earth. It’s part of a binary system, which means it’s made up of two stars: a white dwarf and a red giant. The white dwarf pulls hydrogen from the red giant, and when enough builds up, it causes an explosion. This happens roughly every 80 years, with the last explosion in 1946.
Astronomers are excited because nova explosions like this don’t happen very often. According to an article by Jonathan Deal with NASA, Dr. Rebekah Hounsell from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center says this event will inspire a new generation of stargazers. Unlike a supernova, which destroys a star, this explosion won’t destroy the white dwarf, so the process will happen again in the future.
This is a rare chance to witness a bright nova in the night sky, so keep your eyes on the Northern Crown constellation. It’s a sight you won’t want to miss!
