Binary Stars Will Create New Star Visible From Earth

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]Did you know that in just a few years you might witness the birth of a brand new star with your own eyes? Deep in the constellation Cygnus, two stars are locked in a deadly dance. They're called KIC 9832227, and they're what scientists call a contact binary system. These two massive balls of burning gas are so close together that they actually share their outer layers of atmosphere, whirling around each other once every 11 hours.

[00:00:24]But here's where it gets incredible.

[00:00:25]Astronomer Larry Molnar discovered that these stars are spiraling closer and closer together. They're losing energy through gravitational waves, and soon they'll collide in a spectacular cosmic crash. When that happens, we'll get what's called a red nova. The explosion will make this star system 10,000 times brighter than it is now. For several years, Earth will have what looks like a completely new star shining in our night sky, visible without any telescope. It's like the universe is putting on the ultimate fireworks show, and we have front row seats to witness stellar destruction and creation all at once.