Boston, MA – A rare cosmic event is set to unfold in the night skies by September, offering a unique viewing opportunity for stargazers around the world. NASA has announced that a nova explosion, involving the star system T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), will be visible with the naked eye despite being located 3,000 light-years away from Earth.
According to NASA, the event, which occurs once every 80 years, will be triggered by a thermonuclear reaction between a white dwarf and a red giant star within the T Coronae Borealis system. As the red giant sheds its outer layers, the white dwarf collects the material, causing a runaway thermonuclear reaction that results in the visible nova.
Astrophysicist Bradley Schaefer from Louisiana State University likened these novae explosions to hydrogen bombs, highlighting the intensity and spectacle of the cosmic event. Stargazers interested in witnessing the nova can look for the constellation Corona Borealis, also known as the “Northern Crown,” where the outburst will manifest as a bright new star.
Once the nova reaches its peak brightness, it is projected to be as visible as the North Star and can be observed for several days with the naked eye, or over a week with the use of binoculars. After its display, the star system is expected to dim and may not be visible again for another 80 years, NASA revealed, noting that the last explosion in the system occurred in 1946.
Bill Cooke from NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office expressed excitement at the prospect of witnessing a star explode, emphasizing the rarity and significance of the upcoming cosmic event. As the countdown to the nova explosion begins, astronomers and stargazers alike eagerly await the celestial spectacle set to unfold in the skies.