Scientists expect a new star explosion by September
Scientists predict that Earth will witness a star explosion called a "Nova" by September, and that this event will appear in the sky as if a "new star has been born."
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According to CNN, the short-lived "White dwarf" star explosion will occur near the Corona Borealis (Northern Crown) constellation, located between the Boötes and Hercules constellations in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Astronomers explained that the T Coronae Borealis binary system, also known as the "Blaze Star," where the explosion will take place, contains a dead "White dwarf" and a "Red giant" star, and that an explosion occurs in this constellation approximately every 79 years.
Before the explosion in question, the white dwarf interacts with the red giant as it gets closer, making the red giant unstable, and the red giant begins to eject its outer layers. Thus, the material reaching the white dwarf heats the star's atmosphere, leading to an "uncontrolled thermonuclear explosion," or a "Nova."
THE EXPLOSION WILL BE AS BRIGHT AS THE NORTH STAR
Researchers have intensified their observations as a new explosion is imminent in the system, where the last explosion occurred in 1946.
Accordingly, the star system, which is 3 thousand light-years away from Earth and cannot be seen with the naked eye due to its faintness, will shine as brightly as the North Star (Polaris) if the explosion occurs and will be observable from the Northern Hemisphere for about 1 week.
When the Nova reaches its peak brightness, it will look like a "new star has been born" in the sky; after being visible to the naked eye for a few days without the need for any observation tools, it will be observable with binoculars for about a week, and then it will enter a faint phase that will last approximately 79 years.
- "We can say that the Nova will happen in the coming months"
Noting that T Coronae Borealis is one of the 10 recurring nova explosions in the Milky Way Galaxy, William J. Cooke, Director of the Meteoroid Environment Office (MEO) at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), made the following statements regarding the explosion:
"From the last explosion in 1946, we know that the star's light will dim for a little over a year before the explosion. T Coronae Borealis began to dim in March 2023, so some researchers are expecting the 'Nova' from now until September. However, based on what we know now, we can only say that it will happen in the coming months."
Cooke stated that studying recurring novae like T Coronae Borealis helps to understand mass transfer between stars in such systems and to gain information about the uncontrolled thermonuclear explosion that occurs on the surface of the white dwarf.
NASA WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE EXPLOSION
Astronomers will track the celestial event with the Hubble Space Telescope and conduct research via X-ray and ultraviolet light through the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.
NASA's NASA Universe account on X will also provide up-to-date information about the explosion.