Seeing a nova with the naked eye is a rare occurrence. Despite how bright they are, most of them occur too far away from Earth to be easily visible without a telescope. That may change later this summer as a periodic nova is expected to explode.
The star T Coronae Borealis (T-CrB), also known as the “Blaze Star,” is actually a binary system of a red giant and a white dwarf. Over time, the white dwarf steals hydrogen from the nearby red giant. Eventually, this hydrogen weighs enough to trigger nuclear fusion and becomes a temporary giant hydrogen bomb. This rapidly blasts away the newly stolen hydrogen and temporarily makes the star significantly brighter.
Unlike a supernova, the death of a star or star system, a nova is a much tamer cosmic event. This particular nova has been recorded since at least 1217 when an astronomer in Germany noticed it for the first time. The last time it was seen from Earth was in 1946.
The nova will occur in the easy-to-find “Northern Crown,” a horseshoe-shaped curve of stars located near Hercules. This area is high above the horizon during the summer months, making it an easy target. Vega and Arcturus are the brightest stars in the area and may help guide you in the right direction on where to look.
Exactly when the star will explode is unknown, but it is expected to happen between now and September. Once it explodes, you will have just a few days to catch the outburst before it fades away for another 80 years or more.
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so keep an eye on the sky!
