Exploding star nova expected to appear in night sky

By Jennifer Patterson

From total eclipses to blue moons and a “new” star, 2024 promises to be a great year for stargazers, especially with a rare cosmic eruption on the horizon.

For the first time in 80 years, astronomers are predicting a once-in-a-lifetime nova outburst, which could decorate the night sky in the Northern Hemisphere between now and September. The outburst will be so bright that a “new” star will seemingly appear for a short time in the Milky Way’s night sky.

According to NASA, the event is so rare because the types of star systems where such explosions occur are not common in our galaxy. It’s not to be confused with a supernova explosion, which occurs when a massive star collapses and dies.

The stellar eruption will take place in a system called T Coronae Borealis, which is 3,000 light years away from Earth. It contains two stars: a dead star, also known as a white dwarf, closely orbited by a red giant – a dying star that is running out of hydrogen fuel in its core.

The two stars in the T Coronae Borealis system are so near to each other that matter from the red giant is constantly spilling onto the surface of the white dwarf. This builds up pressure and heat over time, which eventually triggers an eruption.

NASA scientists liken the nova explosion to a hydrogen bomb detonating in space, with the resulting fireball becoming visible from Earth. At its peak, the eruption should be visible with the naked eye.

Scientists predict that the nova outburst could happen anytime through the early fall. The last time this particular star system erupted was in 1946, and another such event will likely not occur for another 80 years or more.

Astronomers around the world are monitoring activity, and once an eruption is detected, the best and brightest views will likely come within 24 hours. The outburst (which will reach roughly the same brightness as the North Star at its peak) may remain visible to the naked eye for a few days before it begins to fade.

Even after it dims, stargazers will likely still be able to spot the eruption for about a week using binoculars or a telescope, according to NASA.

For information, go to https://blogs.nasa.gov/Watch_the_Skies