The expected light show in the sky is the result of an “explosive interaction” between two neighboring stars that occurs every 80 years.
This star is located in the constellation Corona Borealis (and has the corresponding official name – T Corona Borealis, and unofficially – “Blazing Star”) and belongs to the class of re-novae (one of five known in our galaxy). Typically, its brightness is approximately +10 (at the limit of display in binoculars), but approximately once every 80 years its magnitude reaches +2 (at the level of the North Star), allowing the object to be observed with the naked eye.
T Corona Borealis is located in the constellation Corona Borealis, between the constellations Hercules and Bootes
The last time such an outbreak was recorded was in 1946, and before that in 1866. This time, as NASA notes, the Flaming Star is 2 years ahead of schedule and will become visible between March and September 2024.
So what causes such periodic outbreaks? T Corona Borealis is not just a star, but a double system consisting of a white dwarf and a red giant locked in a close orbit. The red giant ejects gas at a constant rate, and the white dwarf “sucks” it out, eventually collecting and compressing enough hydrogen to cause a nova thermonuclear explosion. The white dwarf becomes hotter, larger and brighter (and is what we see on Earth as the Blazing Star) before dimming again and starting a new 80-year cycle.
Illustration of interaction between a white dwarf and a red giant
Astronomers will observe the new event using the Hubble Space Telescope and study the celestial event using X-ray and ultraviolet light from the Neil Gehrels Swift space observatory.
Account NASAUniverse X will post updates on the star's flare and visibility.
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