Astronomers around the world are preparing for one of the most anticipated cosmic firework shows of the year — but you don’t need a fancy telescope to join in on the festivities.
The hydrogen that a small, dense star has spent the past 80 years siphoning off of its nearby neighbor is about to explode like a thermonuclear bomb a hundred thousand times the brightness of the sun.
From Earth, it’ll be about as bright as the North Star, making it visible to the naked eye — even with Los Angeles’ light pollution.
Countless amateur astronomers and observatories around the world — and in space — are planning to watch the explosion, called a nova. Here’s everything you need to know to join in on the fun:
To get the word when the star goes nova, you can follow NASA Universe on X, formerly known as Twitter. For hardcore enthusiasts that want to know as soon as the astronomers do, you can sign up for novae instant email notices from the Astronomer’s Telegram.
Scientists expect it to happen any time between now and the end of the year, likely before the end of August.
Once the star, nicknamed the “Blaze star,” goes nova, you have just two or three days in Los Angeles — or about a week out in the desert — to hope for clear weather and try to spot it. The star will be at its brightest the very first night after it explodes.
To spot the star the old-school way, first locate the Big Dipper. Then, follow the direction its handle points (before it curves down) until you find a group of stars in a tight “U” shape. This is Corona Borealis, the constellation the Blaze star is located in. The nova will be just outside the “U” on the bottom left.
Or, you can use websites and apps like Stellarium to spot it in the sky. Just input your location, and select the Blaze star. (It’ll likely be listed under its formal name T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB for short).
Yakety Sax about 2 months ago
Astronomers around the world are preparing for one of the most anticipated cosmic firework shows of the year — but you don’t need a fancy telescope to join in on the festivities.
The hydrogen that a small, dense star has spent the past 80 years siphoning off of its nearby neighbor is about to explode like a thermonuclear bomb a hundred thousand times the brightness of the sun.
From Earth, it’ll be about as bright as the North Star, making it visible to the naked eye — even with Los Angeles’ light pollution.
Countless amateur astronomers and observatories around the world — and in space — are planning to watch the explosion, called a nova. Here’s everything you need to know to join in on the fun:
To get the word when the star goes nova, you can follow NASA Universe on X, formerly known as Twitter. For hardcore enthusiasts that want to know as soon as the astronomers do, you can sign up for novae instant email notices from the Astronomer’s Telegram.
Scientists expect it to happen any time between now and the end of the year, likely before the end of August.
Once the star, nicknamed the “Blaze star,” goes nova, you have just two or three days in Los Angeles — or about a week out in the desert — to hope for clear weather and try to spot it. The star will be at its brightest the very first night after it explodes.
To spot the star the old-school way, first locate the Big Dipper. Then, follow the direction its handle points (before it curves down) until you find a group of stars in a tight “U” shape. This is Corona Borealis, the constellation the Blaze star is located in. The nova will be just outside the “U” on the bottom left.
Or, you can use websites and apps like Stellarium to spot it in the sky. Just input your location, and select the Blaze star. (It’ll likely be listed under its formal name T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB for short).
Gent about 2 months ago
How bout some sunrise on Mars instead?
mistercatworks about 2 months ago
“And this one is me with our damaged reentry module in the background.”
BryanWoolman Premium Member about 2 months ago
Sent this comic to Musk and Bezos.
Impkins Premium Member about 2 months ago
The view from my window. The two astronauts stuck on the ISS. :)