Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Astronomers are eagerly awaiting a rare celestial event this summer, as the star T Coronae Borealis is predicted to undergo a nova explosion, providing Earth with a front-row seat.
Nicknamed the "Blaze Star," T Coronae Borealis is expected to experience a dramatic increase in brightness due to a thermonuclear explosion on its surface.
A nova explosion occurs when a white dwarf star in a binary system accumulates enough hydrogen from its companion star, triggering a sudden and powerful increase in brightness.
T Coronae Borealis consists of a white dwarf and a red giant star. The white dwarf has been steadily accumulating hydrogen from its companion, leading to an imminent explosion.
In 2023, astronomers observed a dimming of T Coronae Borealis, a phenomenon that typically precedes an eruption. Based on the pattern from its last nova in 1946, experts predict the outburst will occur between now and September 2024.
When the nova erupts, T Coronae Borealis is expected to brighten dramatically, reaching a magnitude between +2 and +3, making it visible to the naked eye for approximately a week.
The star's explosion will provide a unique opportunity for both professional and amateur astronomers to study the structure and dynamics of recurring stellar explosions.
Stargazers can prepare by familiarizing themselves with the constellation Corona Borealis, which appears as a small semicircle between the bright stars Arcturus and Vega.
This binary star system is one of only five known recurring novae in our galaxy, making its imminent eruption an exceptional and once-in-a-lifetime occurrence for observers on Earth.