Explosive Star Event: Here’s How to See Once-in-a-Lifetime Sight in the Sky

Astronomers are eagerly awaiting the emergence of a nova in the night sky, expected to occur at any time until September. Described as a rare event by NASA, this nova will grace the Corona Borealis constellation, nestled between Boötes and Hercules in the Milky Way.

Differing from a supernova, which signals the end of a massive star's life, a nova arises from the sudden eruption of a collapsed white dwarf star. T Coronae Borealis, also known as the "Blaze Star," is a binary system within Corona Borealis, featuring a dead white dwarf and an aging red giant star.

Approximately every 79 years, T Coronae Borealis undergoes an explosive event due to the close interaction between its stellar components. This interaction results in the shedding of the red giant's outer layers onto the white dwarf, gradually heating its atmosphere and culminating in a runaway thermonuclear reaction, giving rise to the nova phenomenon, as detailed by NASA.

Occurring roughly every 79 years, this celestial event offers a rare spectacle. A star that hasn't been visible to the naked eye since the 1940s will briefly illuminate our night sky this year.