What is t coronae borealis?

T Coronae Borealis: A Recurrent Nova

T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), often referred to as the Blaze Star, is a recurrent nova system located in the constellation Corona Borealis (the Northern Crown). It is a binary star system consisting of a white dwarf star and a red giant star in close orbit.

Key Characteristics:

• Type: Recurrent Nova. This means it undergoes nova outbursts repeatedly, unlike classical novae which typically only erupt once.
• Outbursts: T CrB has been observed to erupt approximately every 80 years. Significant eruptions were recorded in 1866 and 1946. A further eruption is expected soon.
• Mechanism: The red giant sheds material (primarily hydrogen) onto the surface of the white dwarf. This material accumulates until it reaches a critical mass and density. This triggers a runaway thermonuclear reaction on the white dwarf's surface, causing a sudden and dramatic increase in brightness – a nova.
• Brightness: During an outburst, T CrB can brighten by several magnitudes, becoming easily visible to the naked eye. It typically increases from a magnitude of around +10 to +2.
• Distance: It is estimated to be located approximately 3,000 light-years away from Earth.
• Significance: T CrB is a valuable object for astronomers to study as it provides insights into the processes of stellar evolution, binary star interaction, and the physics of nova eruptions. The prediction of its upcoming eruption provides a rare opportunity to observe a cosmic event in real-time.