It Took 3,000 Years for Texas to See This Star Explosion

Texas is about to see a star explode in a once-in-a-lifetime event for many. The last time this cosmic event happened to this specific star was back in 1946. In fact, this explosion is a repeating event, happening once every 80 years or so.

What is the Blaze Star?

T Coronae Borealis, also called the "Blaze Star" or "T CrB", is a star nestled between the Hercules and Arcturus constellations. Nasa supplied a graphic of where it's located. Look for the horseshoe in the center to find the Blaze Star:

The Blaze Star explosion is expected to be clearly visible to the naked eye in the Texas night sky soon, but that's exactly what experts said months ago! It turns out that waiting for a star to explode can take a long time, who knew?

Earth is Seeing this Event that Happened 3,000 Years Ago

Located 3,000 light-years from Earth, the system in which the Blaze Star can be found is actually two stars right next to each other. One of them is a tiny (relatively small, still the size of Earth) dead star with a mass equal to our sun. The Blaze Star is right alongside it, slowly being sapped by the dead star's immense gravitational pull.

The explosion that happens every 80 years is the result of the hydrogen built up over the decades that the dead star steals. This creates a nova, or a thermonuclear explosion that repeats in a cycle every few decades or centuries, leaving the star in tact.

A German man back in 1217 was the first to spot the Blaze Star's explosion, calling it "a faint star that for a time shone with great light."

Where Should I Look in Texas to See the Blaze Star?

T Coronae Borealis rises in the eastern sky above Texas three hours after sunset. Your best chance at seeing it is the fourth hour after sunset.

Once it finally explodes, Texans can expect to see the flash for a little less than a week with the naked eye. So, stay informed on this massive astrological event and don't miss your chance to see this incredibly rare and relatively close star explosion!