July 26, 2024

This Week in Space 121: An Exploding Star Near You!

1 hour 11 minutes

A nova is a star that periodically sheds mass in a huge flare-up of light and energy. This week, astrophysicist Dr. Carlos Badenes from the University of Pittsburgh joins us to discuss a star that should be going nova in the next few weeks--and will be visible in the night sky for about 6-7 days! T Corona Borealis (TCrB) is a binary system comprising two stars in the constellation Corona Borealis that bursts into magnitude 2 (as seen from Earth) about every 80 years--and should do so again by mid-September! Join us.

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Main Topic - The Visible Nova in the Sky Near You:

T Coronae Borealis, a recurring nova located in the constellation Corona Borealis, is expected to become visible to the naked eye between now and September 2024

Novae are binary star systems where a white dwarf accumulates material from its companion star, leading to a thermonuclear runaway and a bright outburst

Supernovae, in contrast, are the explosive deaths of stars, either through the complete disruption of a white dwarf or the collapse of a massive star's core

Historical accounts of "new stars" include Tycho's Supernova (1572), Kepler's Supernova (1604), and the Crab Nebula progenitor (1054)

Dr. Badenes discusses his research on novae in nearby galaxies and the use of the Hubble Space Telescope to study the progenitors of thermonuclear supernovae

The crew explores the limits of recurring novae, the possibility of a white dwarf exploding as a Type Ia supernova, and the anticipated supernova of the star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Carlos Badenes

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