MigL Posted December 28, 2019 Posted December 28, 2019 Betelgeuse has been acting strange lately. Over the past two months it has dimmed considerably. Its luminosity is usually variable, but the amount of dimming is considerable since October, and it being a red giant, could be nearing the end of its life and about to go supernova. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/12/27/is-betelgeuse-one-skys-brightest-stars-brink-supernova/ https://www.sciencealert.com/betelgeuse-looks-fainter-than-usual-and-we-re-all-hoping-this-star-is-about-to-pop https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/12/betelgeuse-is-acting-strange-astronomers-are-buzzing-about-supernova/ It is a huge star that, if located in our solar system, would extend out to nearly the orbit of Jupiter. The sad part is that, if it DID go supernova, we wouldn't know about it for approx. 640 years; so it may have already happened several centuries ago !
Sensei Posted December 28, 2019 Posted December 28, 2019 Yeah. Burst of neutrinos from supernova will come the first. Then red alarm for Hubble telescope...
Bufofrog Posted December 28, 2019 Posted December 28, 2019 The headlines are blaring, "Scientists Say Betelgeuse On The Brink Of Exploding!!" The headlines are correct, Betelgeuse may go supernova within the next 100,000 to 200,000 years. I am guessing that the majority of the people reading that headline have a different definition of 'on the brink' than the scientist.
MigL Posted December 28, 2019 Author Posted December 28, 2019 That is true; there were similar stories in 2009 when it shrank/dimmed by 15 %. Possibly all due to its variability. However it is estimated that it has been in the red giant phase for about 40,000 yrs, and I wouldn't mind seeing a supernova in my lifetime.
Bufofrog Posted December 28, 2019 Posted December 28, 2019 17 minutes ago, MigL said: However it is estimated that it has been in the red giant phase for about 40,000 yrs, and I wouldn't mind seeing a supernova in my lifetime. As would I!
Mordred Posted December 31, 2019 Posted December 31, 2019 Not sure I would want to be close enough to see a supernova except through a strong telescope.
Strange Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 1 hour ago, Mordred said: Not sure I would want to be close enough to see a supernova except through a strong telescope. This is a good read on why it would be the neutrinos that kill you: https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/12/27/this-is-how-wed-all-die-instantly-if-the-sun-suddenly-went-supernova/#7e585634502c
Janus Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 2 hours ago, Mordred said: Not sure I would want to be close enough to see a supernova except through a strong telescope. There have already been a number of supernovae that occurred close enough to be easily visible with the naked eye. The last one occurring at the start of the 17th century. All of these were stars thousands of light years away. But even Betelgeuse, at 640 ly is at a safe distance. It would make quite a show though.
jajrussel Posted January 1, 2020 Posted January 1, 2020 7 hours ago, Strange said: This is a good read on why it would be the neutrinos that kill you: https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/12/27/this-is-how-wed-all-die-instantly-if-the-sun-suddenly-went-supernova/#7e585634502c So it would be safe to say that if we live long enough to see it we would be safe from a Neutrino boiling death in the qickterm. What about long term Life changing possibilities? Possibly, new stars forming, etc?
Bmpbmp1975 Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 Betelgeuse is to close for confort And will be bad for us here when it goes?
MigL Posted February 11, 2020 Author Posted February 11, 2020 As Strange's link mentions, a distance of 50-100 light years would be the danger zone. Betelguese is well outside that range. Sit back and enjoy the show.
Strange Posted February 16, 2020 Posted February 16, 2020 Daily updates on Twitter: https://twitter.com/betelbot And some more background here: https://www.universetoday.com/145011/betelgeuse-is-still-dimming-and-we-have-the-pictures-to-prove-it/
paulsutton Posted February 28, 2020 Posted February 28, 2020 On 12/28/2019 at 4:35 AM, MigL said: Betelgeuse has been acting strange lately. Over the past two months it has dimmed considerably. Its luminosity is usually variable, but the amount of dimming is considerable since October, and it being a red giant, could be nearing the end of its life and about to go supernova. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2019/12/27/is-betelgeuse-one-skys-brightest-stars-brink-supernova/ https://www.sciencealert.com/betelgeuse-looks-fainter-than-usual-and-we-re-all-hoping-this-star-is-about-to-pop https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/12/betelgeuse-is-acting-strange-astronomers-are-buzzing-about-supernova/ It is a huge star that, if located in our solar system, would extend out to nearly the orbit of Jupiter. The sad part is that, if it DID go supernova, we wouldn't know about it for approx. 640 years; so it may have already happened several centuries ago ! So does that mean that if we saw a supernova tomorrow, then Betelgeuse have exploded 640 years ago. If it is 640 light years away that is. Paul
Strange Posted February 28, 2020 Posted February 28, 2020 10 minutes ago, paulsutton said: So does that mean that if we saw a supernova tomorrow, then Betelgeuse have exploded 640 years ago. If it is 640 light years away that is. Exactly.
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