Astronomers say that the faint star T Coronae Borealis in the Northern Crown constellation is on the verge of exploding as a nova. This rare event occurs only once every 80 years and will be visible to the naked eye, allowing skywatchers to witness it for the first time since 1946.
The star, located approximately 3,000 light-years away, is part of a binary system consisting of a red giant and a white dwarf. The red giant is cooling and expanding as it ages, while the white dwarf has run out of fuel and is cooling down. Over time, the white dwarf gathers material from the red giant, eventually causing a thermonuclear explosion.
According to researchers, empirical extrapolations suggest that the nova will explode on March 27 and become visible for a few nights, reaching a brightness comparable to the North Star. This rare event has been predicted by astronomers across several eras, including records of explosions in 1787, 1866, and 1946.
This “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity is expected to inspire many aspiring astronomers to witness this cosmic event firsthand and collect their own data. The American Association of Variable Star Observers had previously predicted the star’s brightness decrease in March and April 2023 and estimated it would explode in April 2024, although that prediction did not come to pass.
Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/star-t-coronae-borealis-to-explode-in-once-in-80-years-occurrence-coming-week-7973509