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Spooky Tale at the Star Party

  • Chuck Bueter
  • 2 days ago
  • 3 min read

Updated: 20 hours ago

A spooky tale awaits at the 15th Annual Michiana Star Party (MSP-15) where you can encounter ghoulish intrigue on several nights before Halloween. On Thursday, October 23, a 6:30 pm sunset segues into twilight, and a two-day old moon will predictably follow the sun to the horizon. Join me for twilight at the Star Party, between sunset and darkness, when creatures of the night come out. Together we'll stalk Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.


A cemetery awaits the arrival of light from an upcoming nova in Corona Borealis.  The Blaze Star, as the nova  T CrB is dubbed, last appeared in the year of 1946 burials in the cemetery.
A cemetery awaits the arrival of light from an upcoming nova in Corona Borealis. The Blaze Star, as the nova T CrB is dubbed, last appeared in the year of 1946 burials in the cemetery.

Within the 7-starred constellation Corona Borealis (CrB) is a binary star with a ghoulish back story. A small, dense white star is cannibalizing a red giant star. After 80 years of gorging, the white dwarf star pukes out some of the accumulated red giant. It's projectile vomit of light from a stellar-sized hydrogen bomb. Undeterred by the 80-year eruption, the white star resumes cannibalizing the red giant, and the lurid tale carries on.


About forty five minutes after sunset we'll all find and take "before" pictures of Corona Borealis, site of the forthcoming nova. That stellar-sized hydrogen bomb will appear to an earthling as a new star in the night sky--a nova. Light from dozens of these explosive flashes are en route to earth, with one 80-year flash arriving imminently.


The star party runs October 23-26, and admission is free the evening of Saturday the 26th. I invite you to get a Daily Pass to the star party for only ten dollars, then launch your night with a Corona Borealis "before" image. As a bonus, Comet Lemmon may photo bomb the twilight field of view. You're welcome to stay awhile at the Star Party and witness other wonders of the night sky. Meet some of those creatures of the night.


When the nova eventually does come, you and your cell phone camera will be ready. Likely no one now alive has seen this variable star, named T Coronae Borealis (T CrB) with the naked eye. But you might. Recurring every 80 years, it last had a visible outburst in 1946.


Of course, keep expectations in check. A recurring nova eruption may be spectacular astrophysics, but the Blaze Star, as it's also known, may only appear about as bright as Polaris, the North Star, and there are 50 stars brighter than Polaris. Then the variable star T CrB rapidly fades back into obscurity. But who knows ? That's why we observe in science--so we're not afraid of the dark.


Hope to meet you at the star party for a twilight tale. Dress warmly.


Corona Borealis is in the evening sky into November.  Join me at the 15th Annual Michiana Star Party (MSP-15) for a a spooky tale about a recurring nova racing our way on history's timeline. Image: 2025 March 25, 6:17 a.m.
Corona Borealis is in the evening sky into November. Join me at the 15th Annual Michiana Star Party (MSP-15) for a a spooky tale about a recurring nova racing our way on history's timeline. Image: 2025 March 25, 6:17 a.m.

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Pumpkinova

As an aside, bring your carved pumpkin of Corona Borealis, with a story to describe it. Or please send your Pumpkinova photo if you cannot attend MSP-15 in person. Thanks.


Spooky Space Observing Challenge

For telescope operators, Ben Senson of the Madison Metropolitan School District Planetarium offers a Spooky Space Observing Challenge to complement the ghastly night. Among the listed targets are:

  • Barnard's E(vil) Nebula

  • Demon Star Algol

  • Flaming Skull Nebula

  • Ghost Head Nebula

  • Phantom Streak

  • The Vampire Star

  • Witches Broom Nebula


 
 
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