Astronomers at NASA are gearing up for a rare celestial event that is set to occur in the night sky in the coming years. A star system located 3,000 light-years away from Earth, known as T Coronae Borealis or T CrB, is predicted to experience a nova outburst sometime between February and September 2024.
This event, which occurs only about every 80 years, is being described as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to witness the star system becoming visible to the naked eye. The last time T CrB exploded was in 1946, and NASA experts are eagerly anticipating its next outburst.
Bill Cooke, the lead for NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office at Marshall Space Flight Center, compared the rarity of observing this event to that of a solar eclipse, emphasizing that it will be an unforgettable sight. During the outburst, the star, usually too dim to see without aid, will brighten to the level of Polaris, the North Star, making it visible for several days and even longer with binoculars.
The outburst is expected to take place near the constellation Corona Borealis, also known as the Northern Crown, situated close to Bootes and Hercules. During this time, the star will appear as a “new” bright star in the sky, adding to the constellation’s allure.
NASA has highlighted the significance of this upcoming event, noting that T CrB is one of only five recurring novae in our galaxy. The agency’s experts are gearing up to study and document this rare phenomenon, providing an opportunity for stargazers and astronomers alike to witness a spectacular event in the night sky.
