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Star

T Coronae Borealis

Also T CrB · Blaze Star

Open in Ouranos

A recurrent nova: a white dwarf that steals gas from a red giant and flared up in 1866 and 1946, 80 years apart.

Measured

Distance
2,990 light-years
Constellation
Corona Borealis
Position (J2000)
RA 15h 59m 30s, Dec +25.92°

How far, from the Sun

2,990 light-years. To cross it:

  • Light2,990 years
  • Voyager 1's speed53.1 million years
  • Driving at 100 km/h32.3 billion years

Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.

Facts

  • It erupted in 1866 and 1946, each time reaching about magnitude 2.
  • John Birmingham's record of 1866 is its first confirmed outburst. Bradley Schaefer argues it was also seen in 1787 and 1217 (2023); those earlier sightings are his reading of old records.
  • Its white dwarf and red giant orbit each other every 228 days.

Where this comes from

  • Gaia DR3 parallax 1.0920 ± 0.0275 mas, Gaia DR3 1220110705972528512 (Gaia Collaboration 2023, A&A 674, A1)

Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.