Texas Stargazers Alert: Rare Nova Explosion Visible To Naked Eye

Texas stargazers need to get ready for a cosmic show like no other! This summer, a rare eruption of light from a dead star is set to light up our skies. Scientists are calling it "a once-in-a-lifetime event," and you won't want to miss it. It might not look super amazing to a lot of people, but space lovers in Texas and all over the word are going to want to tune in, because it isn't every day we get to see a star explode.

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IN SPACE - JULY 12: In this handout photo provided by NASA, a landscape of mountains and valleys speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula, on July 12, 2022 in space. Captured in infrared light by NASA's new James Webb Space Telescope, this image reveals for the first time previously invisible areas of star birth. (Photo by NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI via Getty Images)

What's happening? A stellar explosion known as a nova is expected to be visible to the naked eye. This dazzling display occurs when a white dwarf—a star at the end of its life—suddenly lights up dramatically. Unlike a supernova, which is a total star explosion, a nova is a massive ejection of material that the white dwarf has pulled from a neighboring star.

IN SPACE - JULY 12: In this handout photo provided by NASA, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope reveals Stephans Quintet, a visual grouping of five galaxies, in a new light on July 12, 2022 in space. This enormous mosaic is Webb's largest image to date, covering about one-fifth of the Moons diameter. It contains over 150 million pixels and is constructed from almost 1,000 separate image files. The information from Webb provides new insights into how galactic interactions may have driven galaxy evolution in the early universe. (Photo by NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI via Getty Images)

NASA’s Rebekah Hounsell describes it as an event that will inspire the next generation of astronomers. "It'll fuel the next generation of scientists," she says. And it’s happening soon!

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Sometime between now and September, look toward the Corona Borealis, or Northern Crown, in the Milky Way. This is where the magic will happen. A white dwarf and a red giant in the Blaze Star system, located about 3,000 light-years from Earth, are set for a cosmic dance. The red giant, nearing the end of its life, is shedding material that the white dwarf accumulates until—BOOM—a thermonuclear explosion ensues.

NASA

To catch this celestial event, find Hercules in the night sky and scan between Vega and Arcturus to locate the Northern Crown. The nova will be visible for about a week, creating a spectacular sight.

So grab your telescopes, gather your friends, and head outside on clear nights. You might just witness something truly extraordinary. Happy stargazing, Texas!

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Gallery Credit: Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM

LOOK: 31 breathtaking images from NASA's public library

In 2017, NASA opened the digital doors to its image and video library website, allowing the public to access more than 140,000 images, videos, and audio files. The collection provides unprecedented views of space. Stacker reviewed the collection to select 31 of the most breathtaking images, including the first from the James Webb Space Telescope. Keep reading to see these stunning images, curated with further information about the captured scenes.

Gallery Credit: Deborah Brosseau

Source: “A Once In A Lifetime Event” Is Happening In The Stars Soon

Filed Under: NASA, texas, Stargazing

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