Betelgeuse is getting active

[James Snover]

Hey, Derek (and anybody else interested int hsi stuff), look at this:

SkyandTelescope.com - News from Sky & Telescope - Betelgeuse: A Hotheaded Superstar

What do you think about this? The part that really gets my attention is the second-to-last paragraph where they say Betelgeuse's diameter has decreased by 15% since 1993.

I kind of hope I get to see it, and I kind of hope I don't, you know?

Jim Snover

 

[Silver2003Cobra]

interesting.. and since it's 640 light years away, what were seeing happened in the year 1396.....

 

[ford_racer]

Beetle juice!!!!

Beetle juice!!!!

Beetle juice!!!!





Anything?

 

[Euphoric One]

interesting.. and since it's 640 light years away, what were seeing happened in the year 1396.....

Is that true?!

 

[Mayo5]

Is that true?!

I know that's the general theory behind it, but I'm sure Jim or Astro can verify.

That is crazy that it has decreased that fast.

 

[taintedme]

x

 

[LaFlavor]

That's true. A light year is the distance light travels in one year. So if something is 50 light years away, what you see is actually what happened 50 years ago. Our sun is actually about 8 light minutes away...so if it were to go out at noon one day, we wouldn't know until 12:08.

 

[SupaNOVA]

Is that true?!

Yes it is, for all we know Betelgeuse could have already ceased to exist.

 

[66speed]

Yes it is, for all we know Betelgeuse could have already ceased to exist.

Really?

Wow, all that stuff is mind boggling when you think about it.


Ok so for Jim or Derek, what effects would earth feel if a supernova were to occur?

 

[FX4 SAPPER]

really?

Wow, all that stuff is mind boggling when you think about it.


Ok so for jim or derek, what effects would earth feel if a supernova were to occur?

+1

 

[SupaNOVA]

Really?

Wow, all that stuff is mind boggling when you think about it.


Ok so for Jim or Derek, what effects would earth feel if a supernova were to occur?

With Betelgeuse's distance of approximately 600 light years away not much would happen. Probably just an extremely bright light (greater than the brightness of the moon) in the sky for a period of time. The only dangerous thing i would think could happen which is very unlikely is some sort of gamma ray burst passing by or through Earth

 

[James Snover]

Something happened. One of my pet Brown Recluses just keeled over and died.

Jim Snover

Beetle juice!!!!

Beetle juice!!!!

Beetle juice!!!!





Anything?

 

[James Snover]

If it goes supernova, it will likely emit polar jets. If the jets hit us, it'll be bad news. Since there is 640 light years of (4/3)*pi*r^3 between us and the Big B, it's a small chance, but not a non-zero chance.

But it will also toss out a hell of a lot of radiation omnidirectionally, and since the Big B is 900 times the size of the sun ... it will be interesting.

Jim Snover

With Betelgeuse's distance of approximately 600 light years away not much would happen. Probably just an extremely bright light (greater than the brightness of the moon) in the sky for a period of time. The only dangerous thing i would think could happen which is very unlikely is some sort of gamma ray burst passing by or through Earth

 

[wvmystichrome]

So this is what Dec. 2012 is all about. HMMMM!!

Very interesting.






















HA HA! I hope not.

 

[HYBRED]

With Betelgeuse's distance of approximately 600 light years away not much would happen. Probably just an extremely bright light (greater than the brightness of the moon) in the sky for a period of time.

It would probably be brighter than any other star or planet, but I don't think it would rival the moon. Although, historically, some supernovae were visible during daylight.

 

[BigSweezey]

Depending on where you read, it'll be as bright a cresent moon. Bright enough to cast a shadow at night. And you'll be able to see it during the day. However bright it ends up being, it should be bright enough to notice.

I personally hope it happens while I'm still kicking.

 

[L8APEX]

Simulation a GRB from Betelgeuse striking Earth. :-D

 

[Niks97cobra]

That is cool. I hope I get to see it.

 

[thomas91169]

is it really possible for it to blow in a few years time?

ive always known that shit like this happens on a thousand year timeframe, in which our existence on this planet are a mere blink of the eye.

 

[FX4 SAPPER]

is it really possible for it to blow in a few years time?

ive always known that shit like this happens on a thousand year timeframe, in which our existence on this planet are a mere blink of the eye.

They happen daily in other galaxies, and about every 50 years or so in the Milky Way galaxy. They say when this one happens (if it already hasnt) that it will be clearly visible during the day. Imagine how bright that would be at night time if it can compete with our Sun during the daytime. Also i was reading up last night and ironically it was also featured on last nights new epsiode of the Universe, that there is a Binary star system WR-104 that is 8k light years away from earth that they think could potentially be a threat for a Gamma Ray burst. The reason it is such a credible threat is that the poles of that particular star are pointed directly at the earth. When a Gamma Ray burst happens the fastest way for that energy to be released is through the solar poles of the star. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/03/03/wr-104-a-nearby-gamma-ray-burst/
Maybe JS can throw some more input on that topic