Scientists have predicted that a newly recognized cosmic event would light up the Earth's night sky about five years from now. The phenomenon known as red nova would appear like a bright star.
Red Nova
A luminous red nova is a stellar explosion that scientists attribute to the merging of two stars. In this particular stellar collision, the brightness of the eruption ranges between that of the very bright cataclysmic supernova and the dimmer classical nova. The resulting visible light lasts from weeks up to months but becomes dimmer and redder over time.
Astronomers have predicted that one such astronomical event would occur about five years from now and it would be visible from planet Earth.
Merging Of Two Stars In A Binary System
Researchers said that the two stars of the binary star system called KIC 9832227, which is located about 1,000 light years away from Earth, will merge in about five years. The two stars orbit each other and share a common atmosphere. The merging and explosion of these objects will lead to the formation of a red nova.
How To See The New 'Star'
If this first of its kind scientific prediction would turn out correct, astronomers would not be the only ones who will witness and study the celestial event. Everyone on Earth will have the opportunity to see the supernova without using any scientific instruments.
Researchers said the explosion would be visible to the naked eye. People do not even have to use a telescope to see this cosmic display. It could be as bright as the Polaris, the north star.
"It will be a very dramatic change in the sky, as anyone can see it. You won't need a telescope so tell me in 2023 whether I was wrong or I was right," Larry Molnar, from Calvin college, said.
Seeing the cosmic explosion is much like seeing a new star bursting into a previously dark spot of the night sky. Just like a gem glittering in the sky, the red nova is anticipated to appear as part of the constellation Cygnus in the Northern Cross star pattern for a good portion of the year.
"For the first time in history, parents will be able to point to a dark spot in the sky and say, 'Watch, kids, there's a star hiding in there, but soon it's going to light up,'" said Matt Walhout, from Calvin College.
Molnar and colleagues predicted that celestial event will happen in 2022, give or take a year. During this time, the star will increase its brightness by ten thousand fold and would become one of the brighter stars in the sky for a time. The astronomers said this type of explosion is also a rare one.
"Explosions of this size occur about once a decade in our galaxy," Molnar said. "This case is unusual in how close the star is, and hence how bright we will see it shine."
Molnar and his team announced the prediction at the 229th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Grapevine, Texas on Friday.
