2024 Nova Explosion, ‘New’ Star in Northern Crown

A star system, approximately 3,000 light-years  from Earth, is predicted to become visible to the unaided eye soon. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime viewing opportunity as the nova outburst only occurs about every 80 years. T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB, last exploded in 1946 and astronomers believe it will do so again between February and September 2024.

Once its brightness peaks with similar brightness to the North Star, Polaris, it should be visible to the unaided eye for several nights and just over a week with binoculars before it dims again.

As we wait for the nova, become familiar with the constellation Corona Borealis, or the Northern Crown — a small, semicircular arc of stars between Bootes and Hercules .   The Nova will appear just to the left of the left most star in the crown.

This recurring nova is only one of ten known in our galaxy. This happens because TCrB is a binary star system with a white dwarf and red giant. The stars are close enough that as the red giant becomes unstable from its increasing temperature and pressure and begins ejecting its outer layers, the white dwarf collects that matter onto its surface. The shallow dense atmosphere of the white dwarf eventually heats up enough to cause a runaway thermonuclear reaction – which produces the nova we see from Earth. 

Content created by:
Perkins, Lauren. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. (2024, February 27).View Nova Explosion,‘New’ star in Northern Crown (Corona Borealis), Nasa Watch the Skies. ‘New’ Star in Northern Crown. Nasa Watch the Skies. in Northern Crown. Nasa Watch the Skies.