Blaze star to explode anytime soon: T Coronae Borealis to be visible to naked eye after 80 years

The Blaze Star nova occurs when excess stolen hydrogen builds up on the white dwarf's surface in the T CrB system. (Image: NASA)

Our skies may soon be blessed with something truly wonderful. The Blaze Star, a star system far away, may soon appear in the sky. What's the best part? To view it, you won't even need a telescope.

Blaze Star may shine as brightly as Polaris this month

T Coronae Borealis, also called the Blaze Star, is 3,000 light years away. It is going to burst forth with great brilliance, astronomers say. When it does, it will shine as brightly as the North Star, Polaris. Only every 80 years is this rare phenomenon seen.

The star could appear on any evening tonight, experts say. Or it could take a few weeks. The glow will persist for a week or so after it explodes.

"We anticipate that T Coronae Borealis will burst any evening now, any month now," Blaze Star researcher Bradley Schaefer said to Hearst through The New York Post.

Why the Stellar Explosion Happens

Two orbiting stars comprise the Blaze Star. One of them is a red giant. The other is a dense, Earth-sized white dwarf. The smaller neighbor slowly accumulates the hydrogen of the red giant.

The Blaze Star will shine in the Corona Borealis and remain visible to the naked eye for several days. (Image: NASA)

Heat and pressure begin to accumulate as the gas piles up. It comes to its breaking point, similar to an over-inflated balloon. Eventually, the pressure erupts with a gigantic explosion. This is a thermonuclear explosion which can be witnessed all across our galaxy, states NASA.

Where and When the Event Will Occur

The Blaze Star could be seen despite its distance away. Based on experts, it will also appear in the sky as a new star. It will appear between Arcturus and Vega, near the Corona Borealis constellation.

The June eruption was previously predicted by astronomers last year. Then last September, they anticipated it to happen. They now believe that it can occur this month.

Search for the Northern Crown near the Hercules constellation to locate it. Trace a line from Arcturus and Vega to the Corona Borealis. The Blaze Star may shine brightest there.

There is a word of warning from NASA astrophysicist Koji Mukai. "They're 'unpredictable' and may not follow the usual patterns," he said.

The Blaze Star Event: What Is It?

The phenomenon of this rare event is called "recurrent nova." It creates a flare that looks like a star and can be viewed without a telescope. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see a cosmic event.

It may occur at any moment, say astronomers. Keep near the Corona Borealis. If fortune smiles, you'll notice a new star in the sky above that is brief but brilliant.