T CrB Nova Tracker is a personal experimental web application built to follow predictions and updates related to T Coronae Borealis (the “Blaze Star”), a rare recurrent nova expected to erupt again in the coming years.
As an amateur astronomy enthusiast, I wanted a simple way to track the evolving forecasts and related scientific updates in one place because I genuinely hope to witness this phenomenon with my own eyes.
T Coronae Borealis (T CrB) is a recurrent nova system located in the constellation Corona Borealis. It has erupted only a few times in recorded history, and current research suggests another eruption may occur in the near future.
Observing such an event is rare (once in a life time 80 year event), unpredictable, and highly dependent on timing, location, and visibility conditions which makes it especially fascinating to follow.
This is a personal, experimental project built as a focused challenge: to design and implement a complete product in under 100 hours of work, combining UI design, frontend code, and AI-assisted workflows.
The project explores how far a single creator can go by blending:
- Hands-on design-to-code thinking
- Practical use of AI tools as collaborators (analysis, iteration, exploration)
- Rapid decision-making within clear constraints
Key goals:
- Practicing the integration of AI-assisted analysis with real-world data
- Experimenting with web search pipelines driven by AI
- Building a modern frontend using React + Vite
- Styling and layout experimentation using Tailwind CSS
- Exploring PWA (Progressive Web App) installation and mobile behavior
There is no commercial intent behind this project. It is designed to evolve gradually as an exploration space for ideas, tools, and patterns.
At its core, the application provides a single place to follow predictions, updates, and information about the T CrB nova, presented in a clear and accessible way.
It combines curated sources, estimated timelines, and UI states that adapt as new information becomes available.
This mockup illustrates the intended visual direction and overall structure of the application.
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Anonymous mode Users can browse predictions and articles without sharing any location data.
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Location-enabled mode If a user allows geolocation, the app can later highlight regions on Earth that may have better visibility conditions for observing the nova, prioritizing areas closest to the user.
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When no precise eruption date is available:
- The app displays an estimated time window
- Relevant articles and sources are shown to indicate where the estimation comes from
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When a precise date becomes available:
- A live countdown timer is displayed
- Articles and sources that support the precise timing are prioritized and shown alongside the countdown
Sources are always displayed, with preference given to sources I personally consider reliable, such as official space agencies and established astronomy organizations.
The app continuously searches for updates related to T CrB:
- Forecasts
- Scientific discussions
- Observational updates
Because this project relies exclusively on free APIs and free data sources, searches are rate-limited:
- Manual refresh is available once every 30 minutes
- This limitation is intentional to avoid unnecessary costs
The application can be installed on mobile devices as a Progressive Web App:
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Android (Chrome / Edge) Users can install the app directly and follow updates like a native application.
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iOS (Safari) Installation is available via Share → Add to Home Screen.
This allows users to follow the phenomenon closely from a personal mobile device.
If you find this project interesting or useful, you can support its continued development here:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee https://buymeacoffee.com/nav87pow
Contributions help cover ongoing experimentation time, and future improvements to the project. Supporting the project is completely optional — all core features remain free and open.
For reviewers or recruiters who want to see the countdown UI without waiting for a real astronomical event:
Countdown Debug Mode
tcrb.netlify.app/?mock=countdown
This project is licensed under the MIT License — see the LICENSE file for details.
You are free to download, use, and modify the source code, including for commercial purposes, provided that attribution is given to the original author.
This project is considered feature-complete for its current experimental scope.
This is an open project:
- The source code is publicly available on GitHub
- The design files are publicly available on Figma
Both are intended for review, learning, and reuse.
- The interface was designed mobile-first and optimized primarily for smartphone screens
- Desktop responsiveness is implemented at a minimal, illustrative level, intended to demonstrate layout behavior rather than provide a fully polished desktop experience
The visual design, layout system, and UI concepts of this project are shared under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
You are free to:
- Use the design files
- Adapt and remix the layouts
- Apply the concepts to personal or commercial projects
Condition:
Attribution must be given to the original author.
This license applies only to the design assets and UI concepts.
The source code of this project is licensed under the MIT License.
You are free to use, modify, and distribute the code, including for commercial purposes, provided that attribution is given.
See the LICENSE file for details.
The full design file is publicly available on Figma Community:
https://www.figma.com/community/file/1602082091851570139
The file is shared as an open reference for learning, inspection, and reuse.