A Massive Supernova Outburst Visible from Earth will Appear in the Sky, Predict Astronomers
Scientists have studied a binary star system for years and claim it will explode. The supernova explosion will be one of brightest star in the night sky when it appears, astronomers say.
Two stars, which are actually a contact binary (two stars that orbit each other, and also share a common atmosphere), about 1,800 light-years away in the Cygnus constellation, will merge and explode around 2022, and the event, which will lead to the formation of a red nova, will be visible to the naked eye when it occurs.
If this scientific prediction turns out to be right, not just astronomers but everyone on Earth will be able to witness an unusual and fascinating celestial event about five years from now, without the use of any scientific instruments.
Contact binary star KIC 9832227 is predicted to merge and explode into a red nova in about five years.
Lawrence Molnar, professor at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, his students, and colleagues from Apache Point Observatory (APO), New Mexico, and the University of Wyoming, announced their prediction Friday at the ongoing 229th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Grapevine, Texas. https://guidebook.com/guide/85338/event/14967463/
Read More here: Binary Stars To Merge, Explode In 2022, First Of Its Kind Scientific Prediction Says http://www.ibtimes.com/binary-stars-merge-explode-2022-first-its-kind-scientific-prediction-says-2471489
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4091604/Mark-calendars-dazzling-supernova-appear-sky-2022-predict-astronomers.html PREDICTION OF A RED NOVA OUTBURST IN KIC 9832227 http://www.calvin.edu/academic/phys/observatory/MergingStar/MolnarEtAl2017.pdf
Image: This mesh shows the shape of the contact binary star system KIC 9832227 when the stars are viewed side by side. For scale, the larger star has a radius 40 percent greater than our Sun. The orbital plane is tilted 53 degrees to the line of sight. Credit: calvin.edu/academic/phys/observatory
Image: As in the preceding chart, this chart shows the summer constellations of Cygnus and Lyra, with north up. The Northern Cross asterism is marked with the blue lines. The position of KIC 9832227 is shown with a red circle. It is in line with the three stars of the cross bar and, if it reaches 2nd magnitude in outburst, will be as bright as they are. Additionally, this chart shows a visualization of the swan Cygnus and of the lyre Lyra. Credit: calvin.edu/academic/phys/observatory
Image: This chart shows the summer constellations of Cygnus and Lyra, with north up. The Northern Cross asterism is marked with the blue lines. The position of KIC 9832227 is shown with a red circle. It is in line with the three stars of the cross bar and, if it reaches 2nd magnitude in outburst, will be as bright as they are. Credit: calvin.edu/academic/phys/observatory
Clips, images credit: ESO, ESA/HUBBLE, NASA, ESA & G, Bacon (STScl) & calvin.edu/academic/phys/observatory
