Earth is on the verge of a “rare” cosmic explosion in the coming months
Astronomers have revealed that Earth will be witnessing a cosmic explosion that happens once in a lifetime in the coming months.
According to scientists, as reported by the American network NBC News, the explosion will occur in the Milky Way galaxy and will be visible in the sky with the naked eye.
Astronomers predict that the nova eruption could happen anytime from now until next September.
Scientists pointed out that the last time this stellar system exploded was in 1946, and it is unlikely that another eruption will occur before about 80 years or so.
In detail, the network specified that the stellar explosion will occur in a system called “T Coronae Borealis” (T Corona Borealis), located 3000 light-years away from Earth, which includes two stars, a dead star known as the “white dwarf,” around which orbits a “red giant” star.
“Red giants” are dying stars, depleting hydrogen at their core. According to NASA, this is what the Sun will eventually become.
Bradley Schaefer, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Louisiana in the United States, added that “with the accumulation of hydrogen fuel on the surface of the white dwarf, heating increases and pressure rises until it explodes.”
He also said, according to the American network, that the nova explosion resembles “a hydrogen bomb exploding in space,” adding that the resulting fireball would be visible from Earth.
Astronomers worldwide are monitoring activity in the T Coronae Borealis system, as once the explosion is discovered, the best and brightest views are likely to occur within the next 24 hours. He noted that it would reach almost the same brightness as the North Star and that the explosion could remain visible to the naked eye for a few days before starting to fade.
Even after fading, it is likely that sky observers can see the explosion for about a week using binoculars, according to NASA.
