Space 'Zombie' Could Explode in March: How to See?

(NLDO) - About 3 hours after sunset, the "zombie" object that scientists expect to explode will emerge from the eastern sky.

According to Live Science, in March, the cosmic "zombie" T Coronae Borealis (T CrB) reappeared in the spring night sky and continued to head towards a brilliant nova explosion.

T Coronae Borealis is a white dwarf star located approximately 3,000 light-years away in the constellation Corona Borealis (Northern Crown).

White dwarfs are the remains of stars that have "died" once.

As they run out of energy, stars like the Sun briefly flare up into red giants, then collapse into white dwarfs.

Space zombie T Coronae Borealis could explode in the sky in March - Photo: NASA

T Coronae Borealis was predicted to explode in a thermonuclear eruption between April and September 2024. But this prediction was wrong.

The object, which astronomers have been tracking closely, temporarily disappeared from view over the winter months, but has now reappeared and has not exploded.

During March, we can see this star rising from the eastern sky about 3 hours after sunset, becoming visible about 1 hour later.

This is a great chance for skywatchers to witness the object's sudden brightening - if it happens - and it may also be the last chance for most of us.

If it doesn't explode, it will fade and won't explode again for another 80 years.

T Coronae Borealis's explosions are due to its vampire-like existence: It's constantly sucking material from a companion star. Whenever it gets too full, it explodes, called a nova.

One day this eating will end in a larger explosion called a supernova.

Recent observational evidence suggests that this zombie star is about to explode, but it is likely to be a nova.

Still, this was enough to make it shine brightly, like a new star was rising in the sky.

In its current state, with the naked eye, you can only estimate the position of T Coronae Borealis to be between the two brightest stars in the night sky: Vega, which rises in the northeast, and Arcturus, which rises in the east.

If you can't find those two stars right away, locate the Big Dipper, which resembles a water ladle.

Looking along the "handle" you will come across Arcturus, the fourth brightest star in the sky, orange in the constellation that shines with orange in the constellation Boötes the hunter.

Next, Vega is a bright blue-white star in the harp-shaped constellation Lyra.

The Northern Crown, a semicircle of seven stars, lies between them.

In this constellation, the "zombie" would briefly outshine nearby stars if it exploded, near a star called Epsilon CrB, the constellation's fifth brightest star.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/zombie-vu-tru-co-the-no-tung-vao-thang-3-xem-cach-nao-196250304111518257.htm