A spectacular nova outburst to light up night sky, to be visible to naked eye: NASA

Imagine looking up at the night sky to see a star so bright, it’s almost like a second North Star. This isn’t from a storybook; it’s a real event about to happen, visible without any special gear.

This year, the night sky is set to be adorned with a nova outburst, visible without the need for telescopes, presenting a unique chance for enthusiasts to witness this rare astronomical event, NASA said in a statement.

Tucked away in a distant corner of the universe, about 3,000 light-years from Earth, is a star system known as T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB for short. It’s a star duo that’s gearing up to put on a dazzling light show, the likes of which only happens roughly every 80 years.

The last time this event occurred was way back in 1946, and now it’s expected to happen again sometime between February and September 2024.

On a normal day, T CrB is too faint for us to see without a telescope. But when it bursts into a nova, it will suddenly become as bright as the most famous stars we know, visible to anyone looking up at the right part of the sky.

A conceptual image of how to find Hercules and his mighty globular clusters in the sky created using a planetarium software. Look up after sunset during summer months to find Hercules! Scan between Vega and Arcturus, near the distinct pattern of Corona Borealis. Once you find its stars, use binoculars or a telescope to hunt down the globular clusters M13 and M92. If you enjoy your views of these globular clusters, you’re in luck – look for another great globular, M3, in the nearby constellation of Boötes. NASA

This represents a once-in-a-lifetime viewing opportunity, as according to NASA’s statement on their website, the nova outburst occurs approximately every 80 years.

This bright phase will last for several days, making it a spectacle not to be missed. After that, it might fade away and not be as easily visible again for another 80 years.