Nova Explosion 2024: Live Updates and Information
NASA has revealed that a rare cosmic phenomenon, a nova explosion in the T Coronae Borealis star system located 3,000 light years away, is poised to provide a potentially unparalleled viewing opportunity in 2024.
The star system, normally magnitude +10, which is far too dim to see with the unaided eye, will jump to magnitude +2 during the event. This will be similar to the brightness of the North Star, Polaris.
Once its brightness peaks, it should be visible to the unaided eye for several days and just over a week with binoculars before it dims again, possibly for another 80 years.
What will the Nova explosion look like?
The explosion of a nova blasts away star matter in a blinding light, but it won’t look like the star explosion you see in the movies — thankfully, we’re too far away to see this level of detail. To the naked eye, the nova will instead look like a new star has appeared in the sky.
Which star is going to explode in 2024?
T Coronae Borealis
When will the nova be visible?
All signs point to the Nova explosion happening in September 2024. However, novas can be unpredictable, so astrophysicists say it’s difficult to know exactly when the T CrB nova will occur.
Where will you see the Nova explosion?
To see it, you’ll want to look for the constellation Hercules, between the bright stars of Vega and Arcturus. Just to its side is a U-shaped curve of stars called the Northern Crown. T CrB is located in this crown, and once it goes nova, you shouldn’t be able to miss it with the naked eye. It will be visible from anywhere, even from your terrace and balconies.
Is a nova the same as a supernova?
No. A supernova is the final explosion that utterly destroys stars. In a nova event, the dwarf star remains intact, which is why nova events typically repeat themselves.
