Move over, eclipse. There’s a new star in town.
A nova outburst is expected to be seen in the night sky sometime this year, providing a rare chance for skywatchers in Florida, according to NASA.
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Because the nova outburst only happens once every roughly 80 years, it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many.
But there’s a problem: researchers don’t know exactly when it will happen.
The star system — T Coronae Borealis (”T CrB”) — last exploded in 1946, and astronomers believe it will do so again sometime between now and September 2024.
“T CrB” is usually too dim for the naked eye to see, but the nova burst will increase its brightness to a level similar to the North Star, NASA experts explain.
Once the brightness reaches its peak, it’s expected to remain visible to the unaided eye for several days — just over a week with binoculars — before dimming again, likely for another 80 years.
While experts may not know exactly when the burst will happen, they do know where it’s expected.
The constellation “Corona Borealis,” also known as the “Northern Crown,” is a small arc found between Boötes and Hercules. NASA announced that the nova is set to appear as a “new” star within that constellation.
This recurring nova is one of only five in the Milky Way Galaxy.
It happens because “T CrB” is a binary system made up of a red giant and a white dwarf. The unstable red giant begins ejecting its outer layers, which causes the white dwarf to heat up, eventually resulting in a large, thermonuclear explosion — the nova that can be seen from Earth.
To stay updated on when the nova happens, you can follow NASA Universe by clicking here.
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