Starwatch: Exploding nova promises rare sight in coming months

[Rick]

Starwatch: Exploding nova promises rare sight in coming months

In the case of T Coronae Borealis, historical observations show that it explodes approximately every 80 years. Astronomers expect it to blow any time between now and September. The chart shows the view looking east from London at about 22.00 BST this week, and marks the location to keep an eye on. When it erupts, the star is expected to reach the same brightness as Alphecca, the brightest star in its home constellation.

More: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/apr/08/starwatch-star-nova-t-coronae-borealis-visible

[Rick]

Study sheds light on the white dwarf star, likely destroyer of our solar system

Scientists from the University of Warwick and other universities have studied the impact white dwarfs – end-of-state stars that have burned all their fuel – have on planetary systems such as our own solar system.

When asteroids, moons and planets get close to white dwarfs, their huge gravity rips these small planetary bodies into smaller and smaller pieces, which continue to collide, eventually grinding them into dust.

While the researchers said Earth would probably be swallowed by our host star, the sun, before it becomes a white dwarf, the rest of our solar system, including asteroids between Mars and Jupiter, as well as moons of Jupiter, ultimately may be shredded by the sun in a white star form.

More: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/apr/09/study-sheds-light-on-the-white-dwarf-star-likely-destroyer-of-our-solar-system