Once in a lifetime, see the exploding star “Nova” in 2024 with the naked eye!

Believe, think and act scientifically. We invite you to follow the astronomical phenomenon of a nova star explosion from the binary star system T Corona Borealis, or T CrB, visible with the naked eye. Which will explode between now and September. If you miss it, you'll have to wait another 80 years.

February 27, 2024, important news from NASA. For most people around the world it is all above the equator including Thai people in Thailand and people below the equator but the target constellation can be seen. Keep your eyes open and prepare to see an astronomical phenomenon once every 80 years: Nova (Nova) Which is expected to occur during the period between February and September 2024 and can be seen with the naked eye.

“Believe, think and act scientifically” Today, we'd like to introduce our readers to Nova. And get ready to watch Nova if it hasn't happened yet before the reader can read on “Believe, think and act scientifically” Today (April 6, 2024) or if the nova happens first you will be able to increase your knowledge about this amazing phenomenon in the sky.

NASA In the form of a blog post, it was reported on NASA's website that it is expected to be there between February and September 2024.Nova from the binary star system T Corona Borealis or T CrB. In the northern sky, it is visible with the naked eye for several days. But if you look with binoculars, you will be able to see this nova for more than a week.

The binary star system T CRB is located in the constellationCorona Borealis (Corona Borealis) or a groupNorthern Crown Star (Northern Crown) Near the groupStar Shepherd (shoes) And Constellation Hercules (Hercules)

The double star T CRB consists of Red giant star And White dwarf Where birth is a nova, it is the birth of a white dwarf. Normally, people on Earth cannot see white dwarfs with the naked eye. Even with a telescope it cannot be seen. Except for white dwarfs close to Earth. And bright enough

The binary star T CRB is about 3,000 light-years from Earth, and the part of it visible (with a telescope) would normally beRed giant star Which has an apparent brightness level (magnitude) or apparent magnitude of about +10, but when the white dwarf portion explodes as a nova it will make this binary star system have an apparent brightness level of +2. Which can be seen with the naked eye from Earth

Magnitude (magnitude) is a system for indicating the level of brightness of stars in the sky. It has both positive and negative values. Where if the number has a higher value, the brighter it is, the lower it is divided into two types: Apparent size AndAbsolute size (absolute size)

Apparent size It is the level of brightness that can actually be seen from the world.Absolute size It is the brightness of stars that astronomers use to compare the brightness of stars. It is defined as the apparent brightness of stars. At a distance of 10 parsecs from the star itself, or 32:6 light years.

The term magnitude is often used to refer to the brightness of stars. It is the apparent size

Our Sun has an apparent magnitude of -26.8 and an absolute magnitude of +4.83.

Nova and supernova (supernova) Similar names, same things about the stars. But different

Simple explanation forNovaAndSupernova He is A nova is a star explosion. It was like the outer shell of a star being violently peeled away. And the stars still remain.

partSupernova He isAn entire star explodes

The main differences are:-

*Nova Discovered or known to man, they all originate from low-mass stars. At the end of life it changed toWhite dwarf It is associated withAnother star Which may beWhite dwarfSimilar orDai the giant starDThe white dwarf then gained mass… or picked up mass… from another star. Until the nuclear fusion reaction occurs and then explodes… creating a nova.

* Supernova It is the end of the life of a very huge star. At the end of its life, the entire star exploded.

* Supernova Brighter Nova Very, very bright. Some supernovae are very bright. Even visible to the naked eye in daytime, supernovae are much less bright than supernovae. It can only be seen in the night sky

*Light fromSupernova It will be like a bright flash… very quickly… in the sky. But the brightness will decrease quickly within a few days. A supernova shines more slowly in the sky than a supernova. It will decrease in brightness slowly compared to a supernova, for example, within weeks or months.

* SupernovaA star is a one-time phenomenon of a star. But for a nova, once it happens it will happen again. Or will it never happen again? It depends on which star was born as a nova. “raw materials” Is there enough new material from other planets to fill it?

* After the birth of a nova star, thenNot bornIt's Nova again. Eventually it will change from a white dwarf to a white dwarfBrown or gray stars And in the end it will really be so “extinguished star” or “black star” (black star)

* After he was born in the soupPernova The remains of stars are gas and dust. Which will be the raw material and can combine to form stars, planets and other star systems such as the solar system. Such as our solar system, which astronomers are certain was created by the remains of a star that previously exploded in the form of a supernova. Causing a supernova to compare “phoenix bird” Who died in fire and was born again

* In the galaxy NovaIt will happen oftenSupernova For the Milky Way, astronomers estimate that about 40 novae occur annually, but only about 5 to 10 supernovae are discovered annually. This happens only two or three times per century.

Some particularly famous examples of supernovae are: Crab Nebula Supernova (Mebula the Crab) Which happened in 1054, according to the records of Chinese astronomers, the Crab Nebula is the visible remnant of a supernova.

For Nova, Nova samples in “The brightest” Which is recorded NovaCP Puppis (CP Puppis) It is located in the constellation Puppis, was born in 1942, and has an apparent magnitude of +0.3.

How did the Nova T CRB come about?

T CRB is a binary star system consisting of a red giant star. And the white dwarf The pair rotate together every 228 days in a roughly circular pattern. It is about 0.54 parsecs away from them, or about half the distance between the Earth and the Sun. Or between the sun and Venus

The red giant star in the T CRB binary system has a mass slightly greater than that of the Sun, 1.12 times the mass of the Sun. White dwarfs are more massive, with a mass of 1.37 times the mass of the Sun.

Furthermore, red giants have a lower temperature, which is cooler than white dwarfs. The red giant's atmosphere flows toward the white dwarf. It is attracted to a white dwarf and accumulates on the surface or atmosphere of the white dwarf until the point where nuclear fusion reactions occur on the surface of the white dwarf. It explodes in nova

The white dwarf of the binary star system T CRB is a white dwarf with sufficient mass. Which can be repeated as a nova several times

The last time this happened was in 1946, 78 years ago when it was brighter at magnitude +2.0 on April 9, 1946, and before that it was a supernova. It was brightest at magnitude +2.0 on May 12, 1866, or 80 years before it was last seen.

Before 1866 there was astronomical evidence that novas from the binary star system T CRB were likely seen in 1787 and dated to 1217.

The direct answer is from the follow-up and study of the birth of Nova. The TCRB has found in the past that since 1866 the birth of this nova has been clearly recorded. Until the last time this nova occurred in 1946, this nova occurred at intervals of approximately every 80 years…

More importantly, previous studies of this same nova have found that before becoming a nova, the white dwarf will appear to cool down about 11 months or a year before. Then Nova was born.

White dwarfs have been observed in particular over the past year. Astronomers have discovered this The white dwarf appears to have calmed down. About a year ago From detailed analysis and study, astronomers are therefore confident that the white dwarf of T CRB is ready to explode in the form of a nova. Between February and September 2024

Until today (April 6, 2024) thenNova T CRB has not happened yet. If readers would like to join “He watches” Also look at the Nova's appearance. You are not an expert amateur astronomer. And tools are already available to help detect novae, such as personal telescopes So what will you do?

Nova Demo, today's goal, requires no tools. Because it can be seen with the naked eye, especially if you “Stargazing” If you already have it, it's even easier. Because you just keep your eyes on him.Corona Borealis constellation or the Northern Crown constellation.

But if you don't know or are unsure about the location of the Corona Borealis constellation in the sky and want to find a simple tool to help you? A “sky map” or “star map” of the Thai sky (For readers in Thailand) which will tell you the location of the zodiac signs.

There is a star map of the sky over Thailand that is easy to find Sky map of the Thai Astronomical Society You can buy them, for example, at the Bangkok Ekamai Planetarium or at the Thai Astronomical Society. In the Planetarium area in Bangkok

One big drawback that will make hunting novae in the sky more difficult is this Conditions for seeing the sky in your location

If the reader is in a large city, the light and dust from the city will drown out the light of the stars in the sky.

Therefore, the best place to look for a nova target is somewhere away from distracting lights.

Beginner stargazers often ask: What should they look for?EndoscopesHelps with stargazing like searching or seeing this year's Nova target? The author's answer is that it is not necessary!

If you just want to follow the news Especially the appearance of Nova… if or when that happens. The author would like to inform readers that you will do so “Known” quickly from “News” In the media, especially online media…

Because every moment from the end of February of this year onwards. There are astronomers all over the world. Including professional astronomers such as NASA astronomers With the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope It is indeed a tool. Amateur astronomers, hunters of celestial phenomena such as comets, use personal telescopes to observe “hunting” nova targets.

If it doesn't happen by today (April 6, 2024), Nova T CRB. We must continue to wait…

But if the Nova T CRB doesn't appear after September 2024. So what to do then?

The Nova T CRB will likely occur in 2024 or the following year It still exists…

Because the birth of a T CRB nova usually occurs within a period of approximately 78-80 years, and the year 2024 is far from the year in which Novadia was born today in 1946. For 78 years

But what if the Nova T CRB never happens again?

Astronomers had to reset their minds. Find out why the Nova T CRB did not arrive as scheduled even though the T CRB showed the same attitude as before as it was about to become a Nova.

Will astronomers be disappointed?

The scientific answer is no!

Because it means knowledge about novae in the field of astronomyStill not complete…

In fact, if Nova, the target of 2024, does not come on time. It will open the way to new knowledge about Nova!

So astronomers, like scientists in every field, are not disappointed. “surprised” with “Failure to meet expectations” Because it means meeting new issues…to new scientific knowledge.

If Nova T CRB actually happens as scheduled For most people around the world, it will be so. “expertise” Once in a lifetime because we'll probably have to wait another 80 years to see the Nova T CRB again…

But you would be like the author, in fact, if the target nova actually happens in 2024, it will be the same nova. This happened twice in the author's life. Because when this supernova happened last time in 1946, the author was born and was young enough to know the story. Because he has reached school age.

But I still can't remember the story of Nova's birth 78 years ago. “innocent” So much for an unusual phenomenon in world astronomy.

Even today If the nova goal has not yet arrived as planned, how does the writer feel… and think…?

The author still believes that the Nova target will still arrive as scheduled, i.e. the author still believes that Astronomers expect the Nova T CRB to occur this year… and that is not wrong!

What do you think, readers?