The double-star system Z Camelopardalis (white dot at center) as imaged in the ultraviolet by NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer. The system went nova in the past, ejecting and sweeping up material around it into the wispy shapes visible nearby (Photo – NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Sometime between now and the end of the year, a giant stellar explosion is likely going to shine in the night sky.
By Asa Stahl, The Planetary Society
This blast, called a nova, is expected to be so bright that it will be visible even from major cities. The explosion won’t pose any danger to Earth — it’s too far away — but in just a few days, the nova will unleash tens of thousands of times more energy than our Sun puts out over an entire year.
The outburst will come from the star system T Corona Borealis, which puts on a similar show every 80 years or so. Astronomers currently predict about a 70% chance that T Corona Borealis will go nova by September, and a 95% chance that it’ll go off by the end of the year. The nova will likely be the brightest one seen on Earth since 1975.
What causes a nova?
A nova is a runaway thermonuclear explosion that is, in essence, not too different from a gigantic hydrogen bomb. But instead of blasting out of a metal shell, a nova’s explosion happens on the surface of a white dwarf star.
A supernova is a much bigger stellar explosion that can happen only once.
The constellation of Corona Borealis, where the nova from T Corona Borealis will appear, is located between Hercules and Boötes in the night sky (Photo – NASA)
How to see the T Corona Borealis nova
When it goes nova, T Corona Borealis should be visible to the naked eye at night from even relatively bright skies, like those in the middle of urban areas. It will dim significantly within days, though, so the best time to try to spot it will be as soon as the news breaks.
At that point, the nova will be about as bright as Polaris, the north star, which is among the 50 brightest stars in the entire night sky. As the nova dims to the point where it’s no longer possible to see with the unaided eye, it may still be viewed through binoculars or other special equipment.
The nova will appear in the constellation Corona Borealis, or “northern crown,” which is located between the Hercules and Boötes constellations. This part of the sky should be visible from most places on Earth except for the far south, close to Antarctica. The nova won’t look like an explosion, but like a new star that wasn’t there before. So, to fully appreciate this celestial event, it’s worth looking up and noting that you can’t see the system before it goes nova.
This article has been edited for clarity and brevity. Read the full story at this link.
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