A Star Is About to Explode (And You'll Be Able to See It)

Summary

T Corona Borealis, a star in the Northern Crown constellation, has been observed exploding every 80 years due to a binary system with a red giant. The white dwarf in the system accumulates hydrogen from the red giant, leading to periodic thermonuclear explosions known as a Nova. These explosions, visible from Earth as a brightening star, have been recurring for centuries and are now being studied in detail due to their proximity and frequency, offering a unique insight into stellar phenomena.

Takeaways

• 🌌 A star called T Corona Borealis in the constellation Corona Borealis has exploded, creating a nova event visible from Earth.
• 📚 'Corona Borealis' translates to 'Northern Crown' from Latin, and the system is approximately 2,600 light years away.
• 🔍 T Corona Borealis is a variable star that has been known to vary in brightness explosively, and it's the third discovered variable star in its constellation.
• 💥 The nova event occurs when a white dwarf in a binary system with a red giant accumulates enough hydrogen to ignite in a thermonuclear fusion on its surface.
• ♻️ T Corona Borealis has a recurring nova cycle every 80 years, with evidence of past explosions seen as expanding gas shells in deep space telescope photos.
• 🌟 The brightness of the nova can reach magnitude 2.5, comparable to the brightness of the North Star, which is the 49th brightest star in the night sky.
• 🔭 This nova event will be one of the most studied due to its timing and brightness, providing astronomers with a unique opportunity for observation.
• 🌑 White dwarfs are the remnants of stars that have shed their outer layers, and our Sun will eventually become a white dwarf in about 5 billion years.
• 🌀 The gas transfer between the red giant and white dwarf occurs at a point known as the Roche lobe, leading to the accumulation of hydrogen on the white dwarf's surface.
• 💥 A supernova occurs when a white dwarf near the Chandrasekhar limit of about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun accumulates more material, leading to a catastrophic collapse and explosion.
• 🌌 Supernovae are much brighter than novas, visible halfway across the universe, and are the result of the complete destruction of a white dwarf, unlike the periodic explosions of a nova.

Q & A

What is the significance of the star T Corona Borealis in the constellation Corona Borealis?

T Corona Borealis is a variable star in the constellation Corona Borealis that undergoes explosive changes in brightness, known as a nova. It is the third discovered variable star in this constellation and has a repeating cycle of explosion every 80 years.

What does 'Corona Borealis' translate to in English?

Corona Borealis translates to 'Northern Crown' in English, derived from Latin.

How far away is the star system T Corona Borealis from Earth?

The star system T Corona Borealis is approximately 2,600 light years away from Earth.

What causes the brightness variation in T Corona Borealis?

The brightness variation in T Corona Borealis is caused by a binary system involving a red giant and a white dwarf. The red giant expands and transfers gas to the white dwarf, which accumulates and eventually ignites in a thermonuclear fusion, causing the star to explode and increase in brightness.

What is the term used to describe the explosive change in brightness of a star like T Corona Borealis?

The term used to describe the explosive change in brightness of a star is 'nova,' derived from the Latin word for 'new,' as such an event can appear as a new star in the sky.

What is the difference between a nova and a supernova?

A nova is an explosion on the surface of a white dwarf star, caused by the accumulation and ignition of gas from a companion star. A supernova, on the other hand, is a much more powerful explosion that occurs when a white dwarf nears the Chandrasekhar limit of about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun and collapses, resulting in a catastrophic death of the star.

Why do novas recur in stars like T Corona Borealis?

Novas recur because after the explosion, the cycle starts anew with the red giant continuing to transfer gas to the white dwarf. Once enough gas accumulates and reaches a critical pressure and temperature, another explosion occurs, repeating the nova event.

How can the historical occurrences of T Corona Borealis' nova events be traced?

The historical occurrences of T Corona Borealis' nova events can be traced through the gas shells left behind after each explosion. These shells can be observed with specialized telescopes and provide a record of the star's past nova events.

What is the approximate brightness of T Corona Borealis during a nova event?

During a nova event, T Corona Borealis reaches a brightness of about magnitude 2.5, which is comparable to the brightness of the North Star.

Why is the upcoming study of T Corona Borealis' nova event considered significant?

The upcoming study of T Corona Borealis' nova event is significant because it will be the best studied nova due to its timing and brightness. With modern telescopes and technology, astronomers will be able to gather more detailed data than ever before.

How does the brightness of T Corona Borealis during a nova event compare to other stars in the night sky?

T Corona Borealis, at magnitude 2.5 during a nova event, is not exceptionally bright compared to other stars. The North Star, for example, is also magnitude 2.5 and is not among the top 49 brightest stars in the night sky.