Washington, DC – After the recent solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, NASA officials have announced that another ‘rare’ cosmic event is on the horizon for later in the year. While solar eclipses are relatively common, this upcoming event will allow people on Earth to witness a star system in the Milky Way galaxy explode, something that only happens once every 80 years.
The T Coronae Borealis star system, located 3,000 light years away from Earth, is expected to explode in 2024, making it visible to the naked eye, according to NASA. This phenomenon is a unique opportunity for astronomers and skywatchers alike to witness a celestial event that occurs very infrequently.
Bill Cooke, lead for NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office (MEO), expressed the rarity and significance of observing a star explosion like this, comparing it to a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. The explosion, known as a nova, is a sudden brightening of a star in a binary system, and this particular event is anticipated to be so bright that it will give the appearance of a new star in the sky from Earth.
Explaining the process behind a nova, Cooke detailed how a red giant star transfers material to a white dwarf in close orbit. When the white dwarf ejects this material into space, it creates a bright explosion that can be hundreds of times brighter than the original star. If the event is close enough to Earth, observers will witness the birth of a ‘new’ star in the night sky.
Overall, the opportunity presented by the upcoming star explosion in 2024 is a rare chance for individuals to witness a celestial event that only occurs once every 80 years. With NASA’s guidance and insights, the public can look forward to a unique experience of observing the wonders of our universe unfold before their eyes.