Astronomers and stargazers around the world are eagerly awaiting a unique celestial event set to occur in September. The impending explosion of T Coronae Borealis, also known as the “Blaze Star,” is anticipated to be visible to the naked eye from Earth. Located in the Corona Borealis constellation approximately 3,000 light-years away, T Coronae Borealis is a binary star system consisting of a white dwarf and a red giant. Known for its periodic nova explosions that occur roughly every 80 years, the last recorded event took place in 1946, with the first sighting dating back to 1217.
Rebekah Hounsell, an assistant research scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, highlights the significance of this upcoming event. She describes it as a rare occurrence that will spark curiosity and interest among aspiring astronomers, providing them with an opportunity to observe, question, and collect valuable data. T Coronae Borealis is made up of a white dwarf, the remnants of a dead star, and a red giant, an ancient star losing hydrogen to its smaller but more gravitationally strong companion. This interaction results in hydrogen accumulating on the white dwarf’s surface, eventually leading to a powerful thermonuclear explosion that sheds the material, creating a nova.
The excitement surrounding the impending nova is elevated by the chance for public observation. Positioned in the “Northern Crown” constellation west of Hercules, the eruption will be visible to the naked eye for nearly a week once it occurs. Citizen scientists and space enthusiasts will play a crucial role in monitoring the event and sharing alerts through social media and email. NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, alongside other missions like the James Webb Space Telescope and Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, will track the nova’s progress.
Koji Mukai, an astrophysics researcher at Goddard, describes recurrent novae like T Coronae Borealis as unpredictable and contradictory. He emphasizes the importance of closely observing the star’s behavior to understand its patterns and deviations. As astronomers eagerly await the rare event, the global community’s involvement in observing and documenting the nova is crucial for advancing scientific knowledge and understanding cosmic phenomena.