Stargazers and sky watchers have already been treated to a stunning display of celestial events in 2024: a total solar eclipse, the return of the “devil’s comet” and several nights colored by the aurora borealis undoubtedly topped the list for some.
But if that wasn’t enough for you, space experts say we’re in for another star sighting: a rare nova explosion that will bring a “new star” to the night sky.
Earlier this year, NASA announced that a star system about 3,000 light-years away was expected to erupt.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event that will create a lot of new astronomers and give young people a cosmic event to observe for themselves, ask their own questions and collect their own data,” Dr. Rebekah Hounsell, an associate scientist specializing in nova events at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a statement. “It will drive the next generation of scientists.”
Here’s what you need to know.
“Rare Nova Explosion” T CrB
About every 79 years, an explosive event occurs in the Northern Corona, a binary system roughly 3,000 light-years from Earth. Inside the star system is a nova, T Coronae Borealis, otherwise known as the Blaze Star or T CrB.
T CrB is one of 10 recurring novae scientists have discovered in the galaxy, Bill Cooke, head of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, previously told Nexstar.
These novae, plural nova, consist of “a normal or red giant star and an Earth-sized white dwarf,” Cooke explained. “A larger star sheds material onto the surface of its white dwarf; as the material accumulates, the temperature continues to rise until a thermonuclear meltdown is initiated.”
This then causes a T CrB, or “nova,” to erupt.
What happens when T CrB explodes?
Unlike a supernova — which is the “last titanic explosion” — the T CrB white dwarf will remain untouched during this nova event, explained Dr. Hounsell. Instead, it ejects the material that has accumulated on it and ejects it into space.
All of this will lead to a flash bright enough for us to see on Earth, even with the naked eye. The last time we had such a chance was in 1946.
What will T CrB look like from Earth and how can I see it?
When it reaches nova status, T CrB will appear as a “new star” in the constellation Corona Borealis, or Northern Crown.
To find T CrB, you’ll want to look between the constellations Hercules and Boötes, which are located to the north. More specifically, according to NASA’s guide below, it will roughly line up with Vega and Arcturus.
According to Cook, T CrB will be as bright as the North Star — but only for about a week. If you’re not in Antarctica, you should be able to spot it.
When will the “new star” appear?
Unlike a solar eclipse, scientists do not know exactly when the rare nova event will occur.
Over the past decade, T CrB’s behavior has been “strikingly similar” to its behavior in the years before its 1946 eruption, NASA said earlier this month. This has led some researchers to predict that the explosion will occur by September, but others warn that it could take longer.
NASA, like astronomers around the world, watched the nova. They also rely on citizen astronomers and space enthusiasts to alert them to any changes they see.
Whenever you get a glimpse of T CrB, remember – the explosion actually happened 3,000 years ago.