Astronomers are eagerly awaiting a rare celestial event known as T Cor Bor, which is expected to make its appearance in the night sky after an 80-year wait. The phenomenon occurs when two stars orbit each other, with one small white dwarf stealing material from its larger red giant neighbour.
The interaction between the two stars causes a nuclear explosion, releasing a huge amount of energy and making the star shine brighter for a short period. This process happens on repeat, but records are scarce, and there have been several false alarms in the past.
T Cor Bor is currently dim at magnitude 10 and can only be seen with the naked eye for a couple of days. However, with a small telescope or binoculars, it can be observed for longer. Astronomers believe that the star’s brightness may increase in the coming days, making it visible to more people.
Dr. Jenifer Millard from Fifth Star Labs advises locating the plough and following its handle to Arcturus to find the area of sky where T Cor Bor should appear. The constellation Corona Borealis can be seen in this region, and it is expected to light up with a bright star system for a short time.
T Cor Bor’s return was predicted by Dr. Chris North from Cardiff University, who believes that the star may be nearing its eruption. With astronomers around the world poised to catch the event, scientists hope to study T Cor Bor in greater detail than ever before.
For Michael Woodman, a 94-year-old amateur astronomer who first spotted the phenomenon in 1946, seeing T Cor Bor again would be a dream come true. He believes that if he catches another glimpse of the light show, he will be part of an exclusive club – one of just two people to have seen it twice.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c140exemgk7o