Be the first to witness a once-in-a-lifetime stellar explosion!

San Francisco, April 10, 2024

The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) announced on Thursday, June 29, 2023, that a binary star system called T Coronae Borealis (T CrB) is expected to explode between February and September 2024. It’s too faint without a telescope, but during the outburst it will be as bright as Polaris. Astronomers predict that after its peak brightness, the star will be visible with binoculars for a few days to a week before dimming again. Citizen astronomers can contribute to the study of this event and be the first to see this rare explosion by participating in the Single Star Cataclysm Observation Project.

What is a new star?

Novas occur in catastrophic variables, which are simply binary star systems (two stars orbiting each other) in which one star is a white dwarf. A white dwarf is essentially a dead stellar core, and a T CrB binary system consists of a white dwarf and a red giant. These dead stars are so dense that they are only slightly larger than Earth but have the same mass as the Sun! Because their gravity is so strong, they can pull material from another star in the system. In the case of T CrB, the white dwarf accretes hydrogen from its red giant companion until the hydrogen reaches a critical limit and causes runaway nuclear reactions on its surface, temporarily rejuvenating the white dwarf. Nova eruptions can eject large amounts of material from a white dwarf, which astronomers can study to learn more about the properties of white dwarfs and binary star systems.

Why observe T CrB?

T CrB is a well-studied nova system located 3,000 light-years away in the constellation Corona Borealis, and astronomers have been predicting its eruptions for years. In fact, T CrB produces a recurring nova, one of only five known in our galaxy, which explodes approximately every 80 years, making this a once-in-a-lifetime event. The upcoming outburst is a rare opportunity for astronomers to study the nova in detail from its early stages. By observing this eruption, astronomers can better understand the physical processes that cause new stars to form and the evolution of binary star systems.

Join the fun and be the first to detect this new star using the Unistellar telescope

The SETI Institute is inviting citizen astronomers to participate in its “Cosmic Cataclysm” observation program in partnership with UNISTELLAR to help monitor T CrB for signs of eruption. Participants are asked to observe star systems regularly. If observers use the Unistellar telescope, their data will be processed and analyzed a few hours after being uploaded to our servers so that we can trigger a global alert if a nova is detected. Astronomers will use the data to track the development of volcanic eruptions and learn more about this fascinating phenomenon. Visit our Cosmic Alerts webpage and scroll to the Highest Priority section for observation instructions.

In addition to making valuable scientific contributions, participating in the Single Star Cataclysm Project is a great way for citizen astronomers to learn more about novae and potentially be the first to witness this rare event. For information on the Cataclysm Plan designed by Unistellar, visit our Cataclysm page. This page will also guide you on how to observe with the UNISTELLAR telescope.

This article originally appeared on science.unistellar.com.