A new star to rival Polaris may soon erupt in the sky: the explosion will be dramatic

An explosion of a star visible to the naked eye from Earth is a rare phenomenon. And this year, earthlings will have the opportunity to admire it.

According to Space.com, the event should take place between February and September this year. A star brighter than the Polaris will flash in the constellation of the North Crown. For several days it will be visible to the naked eye, and then for another week it will be visible through binoculars or a telescope, after which it will go out.

The outburst will be caused by an event in a star system known as the T of the Northern Crown (T CrB). It is located about 3000 light years from the Earth. The system consists of two stars - a red giant and a white dwarf. The white dwarf is a structurally dense remnant of the star, and the red giant is a star in the later stages of its existence. The objects orbit each other along a close trajectory, and as the red giant becomes unstable due to rising temperature and pressure, it sheds its outer layers onto the white dwarf.

In the process of such a discharge, the substance heats up its dense atmosphere to such an extent that it provokes a burst of thermonuclear reaction. As a result, a new star is formed that can be seen from the Earth. Such outbursts in the T CrB system occur regularly with a frequency of about once every 80 years. Then the white dwarf accumulates enough matter to trigger another outburst. The last time a new star exploded in T CrB was in 1946.

Astronomers advise space observation enthusiasts to pay attention to the C-shaped constellation of the Northern Crown. It is located between Volopas and Hercules. In the summer months, it can be seen in the sky after sunset. This is where this flare should occur.

Scientists point out that usually, the brightness of binary star systems has a stellar magnitude of +10. This means that they cannot be seen with the naked eye - they are too dim. But the outburst of a new star will have a magnitude of +2, which is comparable to the brightness of the North Star.

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