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T Coronae Borealis is about to go nova! Here's why and how to spot it | Night Sky News April 2024

Dr. Becky・28 minutes read

Dr. Becky Smithurst shares updates on upcoming celestial events, including meteor showers and planetary visibility, along with the anticipation of the recurrent Nova event in September 2024. Efforts are being made to preserve the Chandra x-ray telescope essential for astronomical research, and recent advancements in astronomical imaging provide insights into magnetic fields and energy processes around supermassive black holes.

Insights

  • Donating eclipse glasses to organizations like Astronomers Without Borders for future eclipses can contribute to the accessibility of safe viewing equipment for astronomical events.
  • The upcoming Nova event involving T Corona Borealis presents a unique opportunity for astrophysicists to study the recurrence of Novas, the fusion process in white dwarf stars, and the creation of elements crucial for understanding the universe's formation.

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Recent questions

  • What is the Lyrids meteor shower?

    A meteor shower with low meteor count and moon brightness.

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Summary

00:00

April 2024 Night Sky News Highlights

  • Night Sky News for April 2024 hosted by Dr. Becky Smithurst, an astrophysicist.
  • Eclipse glasses can be donated to organizations like Astronomers Without Borders for future eclipses.
  • The Lyrids meteor shower peaks on the night of April 21st, but it's not a significant event due to low meteor count and moon brightness.
  • Eta Aquarid meteor shower on May 7th offers a better viewing experience with around 50 meteors per hour.
  • Tips for meteor shower viewing include looking towards the southeast in the north and directly up in the southern hemisphere.
  • Jupiter is visible in the west after sunset but will soon be obscured by the sun, while Mars and Saturn are visible in the early morning sky.
  • The crescent moon joins Mars and Saturn on May 4th, with Mars appearing reddish and Saturn yellowish.
  • A new star, T Corona Borealis, is set to go Nova by September 2024, visible in the constellation of Corona Borealis.
  • Novas are caused by white dwarf stars in binary systems igniting nuclear fusion, resulting in a burst of brightness.
  • T Corona Borealis is a recurrent Nova, observed in 1866 and 1946, with a unique brightness that makes it visible to the naked eye.

13:17

"Upcoming Nova Event and Chandra Telescope"

  • A Nova event is expected between April and September, transitioning from a magnitude 10 star to approximately 2.5, making it faintly visible in the night sky.
  • Astrophysicists are eagerly anticipating the Nova event to study its occurrence, with telescopes worldwide poised to observe and gather data across various wavelengths.
  • The upcoming Nova event presents an opportunity to learn more about the phenomenon, including the reasons for its recurrence and the production of different elements during the event.
  • Observations of the Nova event will span the entire electromagnetic spectrum, enabling insights into the fusion process and the creation of elements crucial for life and planetary formation.
  • Efforts are underway to save the Chandra x-ray telescope, facing budget cuts despite its significant contributions to astronomical research over its 30-year lifespan.
  • The Chandra telescope, part of NASA's Great Observatories, has been pivotal in detecting energetic events in the universe, including Nova occurrences and black hole phenomena.
  • A campaign has been initiated to preserve the Chandra telescope, urging US residents to contact Congress representatives to secure funding for its continued operation.
  • April Fool's research papers in astrophysics often feature playful topics, such as animal sightings during solar eclipses and humorous solutions to cosmological dilemmas.
  • Recent advancements in astronomical imaging, including the polarization of light around supermassive black holes, offer insights into magnetic fields and the behavior of charged particles.
  • The Event Horizon collaboration's latest image of Sagittarius A* showcases the material spiraling around the supermassive black hole, revealing details about its magnetic field and energy processes.

27:40

"Smart Chart app for viewing dead stars"

  • The Smart Chart app, a star chart app, is recommended for viewing dead stars, with a mention of a magnetic field always acting the same.
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