On a cold February night in 1946, 15-year-old Michael Woodman, a schoolboy from Newport with a passion for astronomy, peered out of his bedroom window and made a discovery that would make him the first in the UK to witness a rare celestial event.
Now, 94 and still brimming with enthusiasm, Woodman may soon become the only person in history to see the phenomenon twice.
That winter evening, Woodman had been waiting for his father to return home when his keen eyes spotted something unusual in the night sky. “There was the constellation of Corona Borealis, but one of its stars was incredibly bright,” he recalled.
Curious and undeterred by his youth, he wrote to the Astronomer Royal about the observation.
To his surprise, he received a reply confirming he had seen T Corona Borealis—commonly known as T Cor Bor—erupt into brilliance, a phenomenon caused by the interaction of two stars locked in a cosmic dance.
T Cor Bor, a binary star system approximately 3,000 light-years away, becomes visible during a rare nova event.
The white dwarf component of the system siphons material from its red giant companion until the buildup of pressure triggers a nuclear explosion, releasing immense energy and briefly illuminating the night sky.
Woodman recalls the moment with a smile: “I hit the jackpot,” he said. His discovery, documented in a letter from the Astronomer Royal and celebrated in local newspapers, cemented his place in astronomical history.
Stargazers Poised for a Repeat
Astronomers now believe T Cor Bor’s dramatic eruptions occur approximately every 80 years, and anticipation is building for its next dazzling display.
In preparation, stargazers are flocking to areas with minimal light pollution, such as the Brecon Beacons Dark Sky Reserve in Wales.
“T Cor Bor is currently too dim to see without a telescope, but when it erupts, it will be visible to the naked eye for a few days,” explained Dr. Jenifer Millard from Fifth Star Labs. She advises using the handle of the Plough to locate the star Arcturus, near which the curved constellation of Corona Borealis can be found.
The brief visibility makes this phenomenon particularly special, she noted, adding that binoculars or telescopes could extend viewing opportunities slightly.
A Global Effort
Astronomers worldwide are monitoring T Cor Bor closely, hoping to capture and study its explosion with more precision than ever before. Dr. Chris North from Cardiff University shared an optimistic outlook. “There are signs the star is dimming slightly, which might indicate an imminent eruption,” he said.
A Second Chance
For Woodman, witnessing T Cor Bor ignite once more would be a personal triumph. “Somebody will get me to a dark sky site for a good look,” he said. If successful, he believes he’ll hold a unique distinction: “I’ll be the only one to see it twice.”
With a twinkle in his eye and a hearty laugh, he added: “Got to keep breathing!”
