It’s time to roll out the red carpet because a super star is coming to town. Between now and September, the usually too-faint-to-see star T Coronae Borealis (T CrB) is set to explode into the night sky for the first time in 80 years. Scientists predict this rare nova will shine just as bright as the North Star, Polaris, making it completely visible to the naked eye from Australia. While you can’t quite mark your calendars for this dazzling light display, here’s everything you can do to prepare for the outburst.
What is T Coronae Borealis?
T Coronae Borealis is a recurring nova (meaning ‘new star’), typically too dim to spot in the night sky. Every 80 years, the nova temporarily becomes thousands of times brighter – to the point that it’s visible to the naked eye from Earth – before fading away again. It’s one of only five recurrent novas observed within the Milky Way and was last seen lighting up our skies in 1946.
When will T Coronae Borealis become visible in the night sky?
Previous eruptions of T CrB were documented in 1217, 1787, 1866 and most recently, 1946. Based on these patterns, NASA predicts that T Coronae Borealis could burst into view any time between now and September. At its peak brightness, the star should be visible to the naked eye for several days and remain visible with binoculars for about a week afterwards.
Swinburne astronomer professor Alan Duffy explains: "We can’t be exact in predicting exactly when it will appear as we are seeing an explosion on the surface of a dead star, known as a white dwarf, that is stealing material from a nearby star (a red giant).
"It appears that after about 80 years of building up that stolen material on its surface, it can’t steal anymore, and a thermonuclear explosion is triggered in the built-up material. (This causes) it to shine thousands of times brighter for just a few days, allowing us to see it as a seemingly new star."
Following the outburst, T CrB will fade again and could potentially stay that way for another 80 years – making this a truly once-in-a-lifetime stargazing opportunity.
How can you spot T Coronae Borealis?
To spot the burst, look up towards the constellation Corona Borealis, also known as the Northern Crown, which appears like a small, semicircle of stars located between Boötes and Hercules. The outburst will look like a bright ‘new’ star within this constellation, which sits low on the horizon (i.e. close to the ground) for us in the Southern Hemisphere.
For the best viewing conditions, you'll want to find a clear space away from buildings and street lights.
Professor Duffy explains: "Look towards the north an hour after sunset; the constellation will reach its highest and most visible point at midnight. Stretch your arm outright towards the horizon, about a hand's width above the ground. Make sure to have no hills or buildings in the way."
He also recommends using a stargazing app, like StarView or Sky Safari, to get comfortable with spotting the Corona Borealis constellation first.
You can follow @NASAUniverse for the latest updates about the T Coronae Borealis outburst or set up a Google Alert to be notified when something happens.
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