We have good news for all sky lovers: in addition to numerous astronomical events, you will be able to see the stellar explosion of a nova located three thousand light years from Earth. Furthermore, it is an event that occurs every 80 yearsmaking it a unique opportunity that we may never see again.
“It is a unique event that is about to occur, an imminent nova. It will be so bright that can be seen from Earth with the naked eye“, NASA has communicated through its official website.
It is an explosion that occurs due to interaction between two stars and that on Earth we can see it as a small burst of light at a point in the night sky.
Although it is very difficult to predict exactly when it will happen, the space agency has assured that The date will be between the months of June and September of this year. That is, we will have to be very attentive to the sky because we could see it at any moment from now on.
The last time something like this happened It was in 1946. This phenomenon is caused by a star called a white dwarf and a red giant, which together are called T Coronae Borealis or Burning Star.
In this case, the stars are close enough that, as the red giant becomes unstable due to increased temperature and pressure and begins to shed its outer layers, the white dwarf accumulates this matter on its surface. The white dwarf’s dense, shallow atmosphere heats up enough to generate a thermonuclear reaction, which will produce the explosion that will be seen from Earth.
“It is a once in a lifetime event that will create many new astronomersgiving young people a cosmic event that they will be able to observe for themselves, ask their own questions and collect their own data,” said Rebekah Hounsell, an assistant research scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, who specializes in nova events. “It will feed the next generation of scientists,” he added.
It can be seen for a week
To appreciate the phenomenon, you will have to keep an eye on the sky and identify two stars that shine brightly in the northern hemisphere: Arcturus and Vega. A straight line must be followed between the two, and in the middle, Hercules and the Boreal Crown will be found. It will be precisely at this point where the human eye will be able to appreciate the eruption. According to NASA, The event can only be seen for one week.
