Don’t miss the chance to witness a spectacular event in the night sky this summer. Keep an eye out for the constellation Corona Borealis, where a new star may suddenly appear, creating a mesmerizing sight in the darkness.
Described as a unique opportunity by astronomer Gerardo Juan Manuel Luna from the Universidad Nacional De Hurlingham in Argentina, this celestial event involving the white dwarf and red giant binary system known as T Corona Borealis (T CrB) is expected to happen between now and September. The last eruption of T CrB occurred in 1946, and astronomers predict a recurrence every 80 years.
Novas, named after Tycho Brahe’s 1573 discovery in the constellation Cassiopeia, are actually explosions from white dwarfs. These dense cores of stars, after shedding their outer layers, can trigger a nova when they accumulate material from a nearby star. This phenomenon is a fascinating display of cosmic forces at work (SN: 2/12/21).
2024-07-01 10:30:00
Originally posted on www.sciencenews.org