The Great North American Eclipse has passed but skywatchers will soon have the opportunity to see something NASA experts are describing as a “once-in-a-lifetime” event.
A star system located 3,000 light-years away from Earth is predicted to soon become visible to the naked eye due to a nova outburst, an occurrence that only takes place about every 80 years.
The “blaze star,” officially known as T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB, last exploded in 1946 and astronomers believe it will do it again sometime between February and September 2024.
“So, it’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing.” The star system is typically far too dim to see with the unaided eye but will jump to the brightness of Polaris, the North Star, during the event.
When that occurs, it will be visible for several days and even longer if you use binoculars.
The outburst will take place near the constellation Corona Borealis, or the Northern Crown, a small, semicircular arc bear Bootes and Hercules, NASA said.
This is where the outburst will appear as “new” bright star.
According to NASA, the recurring nova is one of only five in our galaxy.
While the Great North American Eclipse is over, skywatchers will soon get the chance to witness what NASA experts are calling a “once-in-a-lifetime” event.
It is anticipated that a nova outburst, which occurs only once every 80 years or so, will soon cause a star system 3,000 light-years from Earth to be visible to the unaided eye. Astronomers predict that the “blaze star,” officially known as T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB, will erupt once more in 2024, most likely between February and September. It last did so in 1946.
See also: August’s total solar eclipse schedule. 12, 2045: Alabama will be one of the ten states to experience totality.
The explosion’s timing is far more unpredictable than the eclipse, according to Bill Cooke, lead for NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, but when it does occur, it will be “something you’ll remember.”. “.
Cooke told NPR that witnessing a star explode is considerably less common than seeing a solar eclipse. It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “.
Normally much too faint to be seen with the naked eye, the star system will brighten to the brightness of the North Star, Polaris, during the event. It will be visible for several days after that happens, and even longer if you use binoculars.
The eruption is expected to occur close to the Northern Crown, also known as the constellation Corona Borealis, a tiny, semicircular arc that includes the stars Hercules and Bootes. The eruption will manifest as a “new” bright star at this point.
There are only five recurring novae in our galaxy, according to NASA.
