A "new" star will soon shine in the sky for a week

Earth's sky is preparing to receive a "new" star that shines like the North Star (the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor), for no more than a week before it fades back into the darkness.

According to scientists, this new star could appear at any time between now and next September, and then it will be visible in the sky for only one week.

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The star's appearance in the sky is due to the fact that the star system T Coronae Borealis, or T Cr B, located about 3,000 light-years away, is about to explode. When that happens, it will become visible to the naked eye here on Earth.

It is noteworthy that T Cr B is a recurring nova (a sudden explosion in space that results in the brightness of intense light, resulting in the formation of a new star) described as a “brilliant star.”

T Cr B last exploded in 1946, meaning some who saw it then may see it again now. There will likely be more eruptions after 80 years or so.

Astronomers expect that when T Cr B explodes, it may be as bright as the North Star, Capricorn or Alpha Ursa Minor (Polaris).

When its brightness reaches its peak, it should be visible to the naked eye for several days, or perhaps a little over a week if you use binoculars, before it dims again.

NASA astronomers say that the temporary new star will be located in the northern corona constellation, which is a small semicircular arc near the Howling and Perching constellations.

This recurring nova is one of five in our galaxy. Such novae form when a white dwarf and a red giant are close enough so that when the red giant becomes unstable due to increased temperature and pressure, it sheds its outer layers, which the white dwarf collects on its surface. The material is heated until it reaches a certain point, then a nuclear reaction occurs and leads to a massive explosion that is almost horrific.

This does not destroy the star as happens in supernovae, but rather after the nova cools, the cycle begins again as the white dwarf prepares for another explosion.

Historical reports indicate that the nova was observed in 1946, but it was first discovered in 1866 by Irish astronomer John Birmingham. However, reports also indicate nova sightings in 1787 and 1217.