BLAZE STAR (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The rare celestial event of the upcoming explosion of "Blaze Star" (T Coronae Borealis) will be visible to the naked eye for the first time since 1946, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the universe and the intricate processes underlying stellar evolution.

Blaze Star

• About: It is officially known as T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), is a dim star located 3,000 light-years away from our solar system.
• Location: It is found in the constellation Corona Borealis (the “Northern Crown”).

o Blaze Star is a rare example of a recurrent nova, occurring once in every 80 years.

• Components: The nova involves a binary star system comprising a white dwarf and a red giant.
• Explosive Brightness: The white dwarf draws material from the red giant, leading to periodic explosive increases in brightness.
• Mechanism of Explosion: The explosion occurs when the red giant’s surface temperature escalates dramatically, causing it to shed material onto the white dwarf, which then ignites a thermonuclear explosion.
• Prediction: NASA predicts this event to occur sometime between now and September 2024.
• Historical Eruptions: Past notable eruptions of T CrB were recorded in the years 1946 and 1866, with earlier documented observations dating back to 1787 and 1217.