NEW YORK, NY – A rare celestial event is set to illuminate the night skies as a massive star explosion is expected to occur 3,000 light-years away, visible to the naked eye. Astronomers anticipate that the explosion of the star known as T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB, could happen anytime between now and September 2024, adding an element of uncertainty to the exact timing of the event.
The last time this star exploded was in 1946, making this upcoming event a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most people. The T CrB star, located in the Corona Borealis constellation, is typically too dim to be seen without the aid of special instruments. However, when the explosion occurs, it will brighten significantly, becoming as luminous as the Polaris, also known as the North Star.
NASA plans to utilize the James Webb Telescope to observe the explosion up close, as the light emitted from the nuclear reaction travels all the way to Earth. The event will temporarily create the illusion of a second North Star visible in the night sky. This nova, one of only five recurring novas in the Milky Way galaxy, is the result of two distinct stars colliding within a binary system.
The binary system consists of a cool dying star, known as a ‘red giant,’ and a ‘white dwarf,’ which is the core of a star in its final stage. The white dwarf collects gases released by the red giant, eventually triggering a nuclear reaction when its mass reaches a certain threshold. This process, which takes approximately 80 years to complete, culminates in a spectacular star explosion that restarts the cycle every eight decades.
Astronomers have been closely monitoring this cosmic phenomenon and continue to uncover fascinating discoveries in the vast expanse of space. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the exact timing of the explosion, sky watchers around the world eagerly await the rare opportunity to witness this spectacular event unfold in the night sky.