NASA says that the Blaze Star, also known as T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), will soon explode in a beautiful nova that can be seen with the human eye.
People who enjoy gazing at the sky and want to become scientists will never get another chance to see this one-time event.
(Photo: Flickr/NASA Hubble Space Telescope)
Understanding the Blaze Star
Coronae Borealis is a pair of stars, a red giant and a white dwarf, located in the Northern Celestial Hemisphere some 3,000 light-years apart. Hydrogen is gradually supplied to the white dwarf by the red giant it circles. That which remains of a dead star is called a white dwarf.
As more hydrogen builds up, pressure and heat build-up on the top of the white dwarf. In the end, this leads to a thermonuclear blast seen from Earth.
Dr. Rebekah Hounsell, the Nova event expert at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, says this Nova is unique. She says it is a once-in-a-lifetime event that will interest many people in astronomy and inspire the next generation of scientists and sky lovers.
How to Witness the Explosion of the Blaze Star
Nobody knows when the Blaze Star may explode. One could view the Nova as late as September 2024 or as early as the middle of August. With scientists waiting impatiently for the first indications of the explosion, this uncertainty heightens the excitement.
Locate the star Corona Borealis to see this occur. This half-circular cluster of dim stars is between Vega (to the left and above) and Arcturus (to the right and below), two of the brightest stars in the sky. The Blaze Star is near the bowl-shaped feature, dominated by the star Epsilon Coronae Borealis.
You'll be able to see the Nova for about a week. Over the next few days, it will slowly disappear from view. Similar trends have been seen in past T CrB eruptions, making this window a significant time to observe.
READ ALSO: Blaze Star Will Erupt With Magnificent Explosion and Be Visible in the Naked Eye Later This Year
The Science Behind the Blaze Star Explosion
The Blaze Star's binary system is a fantastic show of how stars interact with each other. The white dwarf star occasionally takes in matter the red giant star throws out, causing novae to explode regularly.
These blasts discharge much energy, but the star is not destroyed. This cycle occurs approximately every 80 years.
The Blaze Star explosion is uncommon and distinctive, though not as spectacular as a supernova. Like T CrB, Novae involves a spectacular ejection of materials that does not kill the star. This is different from supernovae, which are violent and change the star. This makes the flare of the Blaze Star a one-of-a-kind and valuable sight.
NASA wants amateur scientists and people interested in space to help watch the Nova. "Space fans and citizen scientists are always looking for those strong, bright signals that can tell the difference between nova events and other things," said Dr. Elizabeth Hays, head of NASA Goddard's Astroparticle Physics Laboratory. People worldwide can help scientists learn more about this event by sharing their views on social media and other platforms set aside for that purpose.
The imminent eruption of the Blaze Star will be both a spectacular spectacle and a significant scientific event. It will provide professional and amateur astronomers a unique opportunity to observe and study a stellar outburst up close. Remember to mark your calendars and watch the sky at night for this spectacular display of cosmic lights.
Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.