Find Nova Site In Morning Sky
Corona Borealis (CBr) is visible in the morning sky, allowing stargazers to track the site of a rare upcoming nova visible to the naked eye. The star T Coronae Borealis in the constellation Northern Crown is expected to explode and brighten soon, as it does every 80 or so years. After disappearing from the evening twilight, the crown is now visible near the eastern horizon in the mornings as 2024 segues into 2025.
To find the site of the binary star T CBr, which is normally too dim (mag=10) to see, first find the Big Dipper. Shown is January 1 at 7 AM from South Bend, IN. Often you'll trace the direction water pours out of the bowl of the dipper to find the north star Polaris (mag=2) at the end of the Little Dipper. This time you'll go in the other direction. Along the handle, "follow the arc to Arcturus" in the constellation Bootes.
From the first star (Izar mag=2.3) left of Arcturus, drop left to find a similarly bright Gemma (a.k.a. Alphecca). Gemma (mag=2.2) is the gem star in the northern crown.
Lastly, look for a "new" star in Corona Borealis to emerge out of the darkness, with the nova reaching about mag=2, similar in brightness to Izar, Gemma, and Polaris. If you discover a new star near Gemma (area in yellow circle), it's likely T CBr going into its nova stage!
Astronomers expect the nova will immediately brighten, then start to wane over the ensuing week(s) until it recedes back into the darkness for another 80 years.
Anticipating this naked-eye recurring nova, I have tried photographing it ever clear night. Through November 2024 the constellation Corona Borealis moved closer to the western horizon at sunset, with my last likely evening sighting on December 8. Now I have to transition to the morning sky (ugh) and look about an hour before sunrise.
On the upside, the Summer Triangle straddling the horizon is nearly within your ken, a harbinger of warmer days ahead (albeit awhile).
Parting shot:
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