How to Spot the Stunning Nova: This Star Bursts to Life Every 80 Years – Find Out Where to Look in 2025!

It looks like we’re still waiting for the ‘Blaze Star’ T Coronae Borealis to shine. Originally, experts predicted that 2024 would be its year to brighten up our night sky, but it’s now 2025, and we’re still watching closely.

Last year, many were excited to hear that T Coronae Borealis, or T CrB, was expected to become bright enough to see without a telescope. But it seems this flare star is running late for its celestial performance.

Here’s some interesting history: T Coronae Borealis has a cycle of outbursts every 80 years. First spotted in 1866 by astronomer John Birmingham, this star last brightened in February 1946—making it exactly 80 years since then.

Located roughly 2,000 light-years away in the constellations of Hercules and Corona Borealis, T CrB usually sits faintly at a magnitude of +10. However, during its outbursts, it can reach +2, shining as brightly as the star Alphecca, the brightest in its constellation.

If you’re eager to see it, T CrB is currently rising in the east around midnight and can be spotted high in the sky before dawn. The visibility will improve as early 2025 progresses, especially after late November, when the Sun moves away from the star’s location.

To help you locate T CrB, here are its coordinates:

• Declination: +25° 54′ 58″
• Right Ascension: 15 Hours 59′ 30″

T CrB is part of a binary star system. One star is a cool red giant, while the other is a hot white dwarf. Material spills from the giant onto the dwarf, creating conditions for the spectacular explosions we see as novae.

Recent research has shown changes in the star’s spectrum, hinting that an eruption could happen soon. However, predicting these events is tricky. The behavior of novae can be erratic, so while scientists are hopeful, we can’t count on it just yet.

What can you expect in 2025? While T CrB could become visible as a +2 magnitude star, it’s not going to be the brightest star ever. It’s exciting to think about how the constellation of Corona Borealis will look with a new bright star, though! Astronomers won’t miss this opportunity to study the unique event, so expect instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble to be involved.

The American Association of Variable Star Observers has some updates on T CrB’s status, and sites like Space Weather track its brightness daily. For those who want to try spotting it themselves, simply look up at the Corona Borealis constellation in the early mornings of March. You might even be the first to see the star light up!