T Coronae Borealis./Image X@nasa
Science
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CNBC TV1802-02-2026, 11:03

Blaze Star: Rare Celestial Event Expected in June 2026, Visible to Naked Eye

  • The 'Blaze Star' (T Coronae Borealis), a binary system, is predicted to flare up and become visible to the naked eye around June 25, 2026.
  • This recurrent nova involves a red giant and a white dwarf, where gas transfer leads to a thermonuclear flash on the white dwarf's surface.
  • The system, located 3,000 light-years away in the Corona Borealis constellation, normally has a magnitude of +10 but could reach +2 during the outburst.
  • The bright phase is expected to last only days or weeks, offering a unique visual spectacle and valuable data for astronomers.
  • Previous confirmed eruptions of T Coronae Borealis occurred in 1866 and 1946, making this a once-in-a-generation event.

Why It Matters: A rare 'Blaze Star' eruption in June 2026 will make a normally faint star system visible to the naked eye.

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