Washington, DC – A star system known as T Coronae Borealis, located 3,000 light-years away from Earth, is set to put on a stunning celestial display in 2024. This rare event, occurring approximately every 80 years, will transform the star from magnitude +10 to +2, making it as bright as the North Star. Skywatchers will have a unique opportunity to witness this nova outburst, caused by a thermonuclear reaction between a white dwarf and a red giant within a binary star system.
The upcoming nova outburst of T Coronae Borealis promises a spectacular sky show visible without telescopes in 2024. Brightening to match the North Star in luminosity, this event is the result of a cosmic dance between a white dwarf and a red giant. The star system is expected to become visible to the naked eye between February and September 2024, giving viewers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness this rare celestial phenomenon.
Astronomers predict that T Coronae Borealis will become visible to the unaided eye due to a nova outburst expected to occur between February and September 2024. This event will be a unique viewing opportunity as the star’s brightness jumps from magnitude +10 to +2, similar to the luminosity of the North Star. This cosmic spectacle is a result of a binary star system involving a white dwarf and a red giant, offering skywatchers an extraordinary chance to observe this celestial event.
Once the brightness peaks, the nova outburst should be visible to the unaided eye for several days and just over a week with binoculars before dimming again, potentially for another 80 years. As viewers wait for the nova to occur, they are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the constellation Corona Borealis, where the outburst will appear as a bright new star next to Bootes and Hercules.
T Coronae Borealis is one of only five recurring novae in our galaxy, attributed to its status as a binary star system with a white dwarf and a red giant. With the stars positioned close enough to interact, the red giant’s increasing instability leads to the white dwarf collecting ejected matter onto its surface. Eventually, the white dwarf’s dense atmosphere undergoes a runaway thermonuclear reaction, resulting in the nova observed from Earth.