Lots of once-in-a-lifetime astronomical events in 2024!
【In 2024, a chance to see a nova explosion with the naked eye arrives! T star in the constellation of Kanmuri becomes as bright as Polaris】
https://karapaia.com/archives/52330348.html
・This will be the first nova explosion of T star in about 80 years.
・The explosion is expected to occur between February and September.
・T star is a binary star consisting of a white dwarf and a red giant. Hydrogen gas flows into the white dwarf from the red-giant star, forming an accretion disk around the white dwarf. The hydrogen gas gradually accumulates on the surface, and when it exceeds a critical point, nuclear fusion occurs and the star explodes. This is a nova.
・When the explosion occurs, the nova brightens to 2nd magnitude. It can be observed with the naked eye for a few days after it reaches its peak, and with binoculars, it is expected to be visible for a week.
The above is a quote from the article
There are many once-in-a-lifetime astronomical events in 2024!
A nova explosion once every 80 years. I would love to see it! (The last time was in 1946. (The last time was in 1946, right after the war, huh?)
Actually, there are other such rare astronomical phenomena in 2024!
【Observe Comet Pons-Brooks in March 2024!】
https://starwalk.space/ja/news/pons-brooks-comet-2024
Comet Pons-Brooks (or Comet Pon Brooks) has an orbital period of about 70 years.
This one seems to have already occurred. However, it is 5 to 6 magnitude bright, so binoculars are required.
On April 21, the comet will make its closest approach to the sun and reach its peak brightness. (It will be at 3rd magnitude brightness.)
It may be a good idea to observe it near April 21.
Incidentally, the comet will make its closest approach to the earth on June 2, but it will not be as bright because it is farther from the sun.
A nova explosion once every 80 years and a comet once every 70 years. This alone is amazing,
But there is something even more amazing.
【Astronomical Events to Watch in 2024! Comet Pon Brooks and Comet Purple-Valley-Atlas to approach Earth】
https://tenki.jp/suppl/grapefruit_j02/2024/03/12/32410.html
The appearance of Comet Purple-Valley-Atlas is expected to be the biggest astronomical event of 2024.
This is because it is a comet with an orbit that will never return. In other words, it will be the first and last opportunity to observe it.
The new comet was discovered in January 2023 by the Zijinshan Observatory in China and the Asteroid Last Lightning Alert System (ATLAS). It is kind of amazing that it was discovered by the collision warning system.
It is expected to brighten to minus magnitude around September 28, and will be visible low in the eastern sky just before sunrise, and around October 10, it is expected to be seen tailing off in the western sky after sunset.
It will make its closest approach to the sun around October 10. I guess you can observe it during the period before and after that.
I am really looking forward to it! (I even wrote it down in my schedule book)
That’s all for now, a space-loving composer excitedly reports on the astronomical events of 2024.
See you then
I like cherry blossom season because everyone looks up (and looks at me). (I don’t like pollen, though.)
Why don’t we all look up at the universe (Sora) at astronomy events as well?^^
