Image Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
The anticipated cosmic explosion of a star known as 'Blaze Star,' or T Coronae Borealis, has yet to materialize despite predictions for May and June. However, astronomers expect that the star is finally on track towards undergoing this spectacular event. T Coronae Borealis, shining at a magnitude of +2 akin to the North Star, is a recurring nova that will briefly illuminate the sky before returning to its normal brightness.
Located in the constellation Corona Borealis approximately 3,000 light-years away from Earth, Blaze Star is part of a binary system composed of a large red giant star and a small white dwarf star, with a significant age gap between them. The white dwarf star accumulates matter from the red giant over time, leading to periodic detonations and bright eruptions known as novae.
This forthcoming nova event is expected to be visible to the naked eye for about a week, resembling the sudden appearance of a new star in the sky. The explosion can occur during the day or night, as per NASA. The last recorded nova happened in 1946, with the current cycle suggesting an earlier brightness peak in comparison to past occurrences. This recurring event has been observed for over 800 years, allowing viewers to witness and study the phenomena firsthand.
Astronomers predict that the explosion of Blaze Star is imminent, with the event likely to unfold soon.Experts cannot determine an exact date, but they anticipate the event to occur around late September. To locate the star, it is situated in the Corona Borealis constellation and will become visible during the thermonuclear eruption. Despite this, it can still be found using various astronomical methods. One straightforward way is to identify the Big Dipper, then follow the curve of its handle. By doing so, you will come across a bright red star named Arcturus. Continuing in a northeastern direction from Arcturus, locate another star known as Vega. Positioned between Arcturus and Vega, you will find the Blaze Star.
