Elusive ‘Blaze Star’ might lastly seem in our skies tonight after a number of false alarms – this is tips on how to see it
After more than a year of waiting and multiple false alarms, an elusive new star could appear in our skies tonight.
This distant star, known as the ‘Blaze Star’, is normally too faint to be seen from Earth without a powerful telescope.
However, once every 80 years, the recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis erupts in an explosion bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.
If the Blaze Star really does burst into life tonight, keen stargazers will have plenty of time to see it, as experts say the stunning display will linger for up to a week.
Scientists first suggested the Blaze Star could be close to appearing in late 2023 after the system suddenly dimmed, just as it had before previous novae.
But, despite multiple predictions throughout the following year, the Blaze Star has remained stubbornly hidden.
Now, a new study by Jean Schneider, an astronomer at the Paris Observatory in France, suggests the star will either appear this week or in seven months’ time.
So, if Mr Schneider’s prediction proves correct, here’s how you can see this once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event.
Scientists believe the elusive Blaze Star could appear in the sky tonight after more than a year of waiting and false alarms. Pictured: An artists impression of the Blaze Star
What is the Blaze Star?
The Blaze Star is not technically a new star but rather a massive explosion called a nova which occurs regularly about once every 80 years.
This blast originates from a binary star system made up of a massive red giant orbiting an ultra-dense white dwarf star about the same size as Earth.
As the pair swing about each other, the white dwarf siphons away its partner’s hydrogen fuel – slowly consuming the larger star.
However, as the hydrogen falls into the white dwarf, some builds up on the surface of the star.
Eventually, this hydrogen layer builds up so much pressure that it ignites in a blast of heat and light which we see from Earth as a new star appearing in the sky.
The last time scientists saw this explosion was in 1946, meaning we should expect to see a new explosion any time in the coming weeks or months.
Of course, it’s worth remembering that T Coronae Borealis is 3,000 light years away, meaning the nova has already happened, and we are just waiting for the light to reach us.
The Blaze Star is not actually a new star but rather a vast explosion in a binary star system called T Coronae Borealis, which contains a red giant and a white dwarf star. About every 80 years, the white dwarf explodes into a nova so bright that it appears like a new star has appeared in the sky (stock image)
Why do some scientists think it could appear tonight?
In late 2023, scientists watching the T Coronae Borealis noticed that it suddenly became significantly dimmer.
Since this is exactly what had happened before the 1946 nova, astronomers suggested that the Blaze Star was on the brink of igniting.
But the exact date of the nova’s arrival at Earth has proven extremely hard to predict since the Blaze Star’s patterns aren’t entirely regular.
The amount of time between each of the recorded appearances has increased or decreased by 1.4 years on average, with no pattern to tell which way it will swing.
However, when Mr Schneider looked at the dates since the Blaze Star’s first appearance in 1217, he noticed something unusual.
Mr Schneider told MailOnline that he ‘arbitrarily’ divided the time between the appearances, 78 to 80 years, by the time taken for the stars to complete one orbit, 228 days.
‘I discovered with great surprise that it was always an integer [whole] number,’ says Mr Schneider.
Exactly when the white dwarft in T Coronae Borealis will explode is hard to predict. However, a a study found that the time between explions is always divisible by the time taken by the stars to orbit eachother. The next date which fits this pattern is tonight
This means the time between novae is always exactly divisible by the orbital period between the red giant and white dwarf stars.
If that pattern holds, the next date which fits will be March 27, give or take about 10 days of uncertainty.
If the star doesn’t appear within that time, the next possible window according to Mr Schneider’s calculations will be November 10, followed by June 25, 2026.
It is not clear why the nova’s period would be related to the orbit in any way and there is no proven physical explanation for this phenomenon.
Mr Schneider suggests it could be the product of a third, hidden star which would dump an extra portion of hydrogen onto the white dwarf and trigger the nova at specific points in their orbit.
However, no third star has yet been observed, and this theory is currently unproven.
How to see the Blaze Star
If Mr Schneider’s predictions are correct, then the Blaze Star could be visible as early as tonight and remain in the sky for up to a week afterwards.
To find T Coronae Borealis (T CrB) look for the constellation Corona Borealis, between the Hercules and Boötes constellations. It willbe one of the brightest stars in the sky and should be fairly easy to spot
As uncertain as the exact timing may be, finding the nova should be fairly easy since it appears in a fixed location in the sky.
The new star will appear in the lesser-known Corona Borealis, or Northern Crown, constellation.
To find Corona Borealis, look between the larger Boötes and Hercules constellations for a ‘U-shaped’ curve of stars.
If you are still struggling, consider using a star-map app which are available for free on your phone and can make spotting specific stars and constellations a lot easier.
The Blaze Star will have a brightness, or ‘magnitude’, of +2 which will make it about as bright as the North Star.
This means it will be one of the brightest things in the sky and should be obvious once you have found the right part of the sky.
To ensure you have the best view, try to find an area with an uninterrupted view of the sky away from sources of light pollution such as street lights.
Give your eyes plenty of time to adjust to the darkness by avoiding using your phone or torches while you wait.
To find the star follow the handle of the big dipper (shown here from the Northern Hemisphere) and look for a reddish star named Arcturus. The blaze star should appear halfway between this star and another bright star to the North East called Vega
However, the Met Office currently predicts mixed weather conditions for the UK over the coming few days.
A Met Office spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Visibility this evening and tomorrow night will depend on where you are in the UK.’
While some areas of the southeast of England should see relatively clear skies tonight, Scotland and Northern England may see some rain.
Be sure to check the weather forecast for your area and prepare appropriately before heading out stargazing.
