Prepare to see a sky explosion that only happens once every 80 years

Every 80 years, the sky gives us a rare gift: a stellar explosion called a nova that eclipses all other cosmic wonders. This celestial fireworks display occurs when a white dwarf star erupts, increasing its brightness ten thousandfold. Even with the naked eye we can admire its splendor from millions of miles away, and another spectacle is about to begin very soon. NASA scientists and astronomers are patiently waiting to see it, just as we have yearned to see solar eclipses and the Northern Lights in recent years.

During a nova event, a white dwarf star attracts solar matter from a nearby red giant. When heat and pressure become too high, a thermonuclear explosion results. This makes the white dwarf brighter in the sky, but it does not disintegrate, and once the explosion dissipates, the star returns to its original brightness. This massive eruption is a nova.

The nova can be seen with the naked eye for more than a week after its appearance. During this period, it will appear that a new star has appeared in the sky. According to NASA, the explosion could happen at any time, day or night, between now and September, although scientists say it could take longer.

This NASA video shows what it looks like.

The last of this star system dates back to 1946

The cosmic light show comes courtesy of T Coronae Borealis, also known as Blaze Star or T CrB. It is a binary star system consisting of a white dwarf and a former red giant located about 3,000 light years from Earth in the northern corona of the Milky Way. It is part of the Corona Borealis constellation which forms a distinctive C in the sky, mainly during the summer months.

The white dwarf, which is the dead remnant of a star, is about the size of Earth but has the same mass as the Sun. Meanwhile, the aging red giant is a dying star spewing material into space. The massive gravitational pull of the white dwarf attracts material ejected from the red giant. Once the white dwarf has accumulated enough material, the heat increases so much that it causes an uncontrolled thermonuclear reaction. This explosion is called a nova.

The first nova in this star system occurred in 1946. This is a cycle that has been ongoing since its discovery over 800 years ago.

“This is a unique event that will create many new astronomers, giving young people a cosmic event that they can observe for themselves, ask their own questions and collect their own data,” Dr Rebekah said. Hounsell, assistant research scientist at NASA’s Godard Space Flight Center. “This will fuel the next generation of scientists.”

Where is the Corona Borealis located?

You’re probably not as familiar with the Corona Borealis as you are with the easier-to-spot constellations, like the Big Dipper. It is difficult to find it in the night sky unless the weather is clear. Light pollution in big cities can also make searching more difficult.

NASA says the easiest way to find the Corona Borealis is to find Vega and Arcturus, the two brightest stars in the northern hemisphere. (Sky-gazing apps for your phone might help.) From there, you can basically draw an imaginary line between the two. Corona Borealis is located almost right in the middle. You can use the graphic below to see what we mean.

Alternatively, you can also search for the Hercules constellation, and the Corona Borealis will be right next to it. Remember that you can’t see the star in question until the nova appears, so if you look in the sky before that happens, the location where the nova will occur won’t be visible .

When will the nova take place?

Nobody knows for sure. Astronomers and scientists only know that the nova is likely to erupt at any time. Most of them agree that the nova should take place before September or so, although it could take longer.

Since a nova can occur at any time, NASA relies on citizen astronomers and space enthusiasts to alert NASA when the nova will occur.

“Using social media and email, (observers) will send instant alerts,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hayes, head of NASA Goddard’s Astroparticle Physics Laboratory. “We are once again counting on this interaction of the global community with T CrB.”

Early detection can also help NASA collect more data about the event to better understand its mechanisms.

“We will observe the nova event at its peak and during its decline, as the visible energy from the explosion fades,” Hounsell said. “But it’s just as critical to get data early in the eruption – so the data collected by these passionate nova-watching citizen scientists will contribute significantly to our findings.”

Will I need a telescope to see the nova?

NASA says the nova will be visible to the naked eye on a clear day.

However, it is important to know what to look for. The nova will not look like an explosion like we see in Michael Bay movies. It will just look like another star in the sky that wasn’t there before.

It will also be quite bright, so it should be quite visible. Those who own telescopes and binoculars will of course have a better view.

What is the difference between a nova and a supernova?

Most people have heard of the term “supernova.” It is the last dying gasp of a star as it darkens. However, this last dying gasp also turns out to be the largest explosion ever seen by humans, as the star violently ejects material into space. Scientists believe supernovas are responsible for elements heavier than iron in the universe. Oddly, even the iron in your blood can be attributed to supernovas or similar cosmic explosions.

A nova, on the other hand, requires two stars. One star is always a white dwarf, while the other is usually a red giant.

There are other types of novas as well. Hypernovas are supernovas that reach a certain size and luminosity. Usually, they are about 10 or more times brighter than a standard supernova. Another type, an extremely rare kilonova, occurs when two neutron stars collide, releasing an incredible gravitational wave accompanied by electromagnetic radiation.