> ScienceThere is a star explosion going on a few thousand light-years away from Earth and it could be visible any day now.
ALSO SEE: Rare Star Explosion Set to Illuminate Skies After Almost 80 Years; All About The Once-In-A-Lifetime EventHow to watch the once-in-a-lifetime event?
This will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime event which will be visible after sunset.
Skygazers are advised to keep an eye on the Corona Borealis constellation - the empty spot between its seven stars, to be specific.
For better reference, you can also use the constellation Hercules which lies between Vega and Corona Borealis.
> Science
There is a star explosion going on a few thousand light-years away from Earth and it could be visible any day now. You need no special equipment to spot it.
Astronomers across the world are looking for the T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), dubbed the 'Blaze Star', which is part of a binary system comprising a white dwarf and a red giant star.
This system, NASA says, is nestled in the Northern Crown about 3,000 light-years away and the explosion occurs at an average of every 80 years.
The first documented nova explosion of T CrB was in the year 1217 and the last such event happened in 1946. Scientists explain that when the hydrogen from the red giant accretes on the surface of the white dwarf, it causes a buildup of pressure and heat and triggers a thermonuclear reaction.
A nova explosion is different from a supernova explosion which happens when the star has reached the end of its life. In the former event, periodic explosions take place due to the accretion process and it can continue for lakhs of years.
ALSO SEE: Rare Star Explosion Set to Illuminate Skies After Almost 80 Years; All About The Once-In-A-Lifetime Event
How to watch the once-in-a-lifetime event?
This will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime event which will be visible after sunset. Skygazers are advised to keep an eye on the Corona Borealis constellation - the empty spot between its seven stars, to be specific. That's where a bright light will be visible and start fading after a week.
Constellations Hercules and Corona Borealis. Image: NASA
This constellation lies in an imaginary straight line that connects that stars Vega and Arcturus (see image above for reference.) Astronomy apps on your phone can be a big help in locating the constellation.
For better reference, you can also use the constellation Hercules which lies between Vega and Corona Borealis.
"We don’t often see a repeated outburst in a human lifetime, and rarely one so relatively close to our own system," Dr. Rebekah Hounsell, a research scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Center said.
ALSO SEE: A Star That Exploded 40 Years Ago Is Breaking The Rules, Scientists Call It A Treasure
(Image: NASA)
