In the approaching months, a forthcoming cosmic event will offer the chance to observe a star system situated 3,000 light years away from Earth. This rare cosmic outburst will shine so intensely that it will manifest as a transient new star in the night sky.
As per NASA, the phenomenon is set to occur within the ‘T Coronae Borealis’ system and will be observable to residents of the Northern Hemisphere. This distant star system comprises a white dwarf, commonly known as a dead star, closely encircled by a red giant – stars nearing depletion of hydrogen in their cores. According to NASA estimates, the Sun has millions of years left before transitioning into a red dwarf.
Within the T Coronae Borealis system, the proximity of the red giant to the white dwarf results in a continual transfer of matter from the former to the latter’s surface. This ongoing process elevates the pressure and temperature within the white dwarf, ultimately leading to an eruption.
Although the star system remains beyond naked-eye visibility, it will become observable through binoculars once its eruption peaks, appearing as a new star in the night sky for approximately a week before fading into obscurity for nearly a century. If you’re seeking its location, the newfound star will emerge near Corona Borealis, a small semicircular arc adjacent to the Bootes and Hercules constellations.
The system’s previous eruption occurred in 1946, prompting astronomers to predict another explosion sometime between February and September of this year. NASA considers this event a rare chance to witness a nova outburst, an occurrence typically happening once every 80 years.
