Betelgeuse could beon the verge of going nova

[Lindley]

Don't worry. You only have to get the distance in the ballpark to enable the Stargate to connect.

 

[KJbushway]

yes why look at the nebula from here when you can dial up a planet a little closer and feel the warmth.

 

[Ayelbourne]

Not the best written and tad cliched but it's being reported that scientist believe the star Betelgeuse is showing signs it could turn into a supernova.

As does http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eta_Carinae

For years, that star has been known to be on the verge of going supernova or maybe even hypernova.

 

[KJbushway]

hypernova sounds like a title for one of those cheesy syfy movies

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

^ Please don't give them any ideas.

 

[Capt_Pickirk]

It could star Nic Cage!!!!

(Runs off to write script)

Fade. in

Space, all is silence when EXPLOSION!!!!!!!!!!! Heavy Rock music plays


Directed by Michael Bay

 

[STR]

Well, It if already happened, we are obviously ok now.

Not really, because any and all effects from the event propagate out at the speed of light or slower. So if Betelgeuse exploded 600 years ago, not only would we not see it for 40 more years, but there wouldn't be any other effects that we'd see either.

For all intents and purposes (because we don't have superluminal flight capability, or a ham radio buddy aliens to provide a second perspective) you can consider the universe real time, and that Betelgeuse hasn't exploded yet, regardless of what someone 600 light years away might observe. Since we can't talk to them, it doesn't matter what they think.

Once it does happen, we will be okay.

 

[RoJoHen]

Once it does happen, we will be okay.

We hope.

 

[Amaris]

Fortunately, I carry my umbrella.

 

[ST-One]

Fortunately, I carry my umbrella.

No towel?

 

[Lindley]

Not really, because any and all effects from the event propagate out at the speed of light or slower. So if Betelgeuse exploded 600 years ago, not only would we not see it for 40 more years, but there wouldn't be any other effects that we'd see either.

Which raises the question: when the light does arrive, will the shockwave overtake us all at once like a sonic boom? Or will we be able to see it propagating towards us?

 

[JarodRussell]

Sometimes I wish people would at least read the Wikipedia articles about it, if anything.

 

[sojourner]

^Agreed, but some people think everything on wikipedia is wrong. Including the references.

 

[Ronald Held]

Wikipedia should not be comnsidered a primary source of information. How can a shock wave moving in a medium, outrace light?

 

[RoJoHen]

Not really, because any and all effects from the event propagate out at the speed of light or slower. So if Betelgeuse exploded 600 years ago, not only would we not see it for 40 more years, but there wouldn't be any other effects that we'd see either.

Which raises the question: when the light does arrive, will the shockwave overtake us all at once like a sonic boom? Or will we be able to see it propagating towards us?

I supposed it depends on how fast the actual explosion happens. I'd love to be staring at the sky on a clear night during the seconds that the light actually reaches us. What will that explosion look like from such a distance?

 

[KJbushway]

You could just carry around a snuggie.
OK this is out of context my bad.
This is reference to the towel and umbrella debate on the next page.

 

[sojourner]

Wikipedia should not be comnsidered a primary source of information. How can a shock wave moving in a medium, outrace light?

Nobody said it should be a primary source, but it is a good primer and a lot better than being willfully ignorant on a topic.

 

[RoJoHen]

Wikipedia should not be comnsidered a primary source of information. How can a shock wave moving in a medium, outrace light?

Nobody said it should be a primary source, but it is a good primer and a lot better than being willfully ignorant on a topic.

I prefer to ask questions and have other people tell me the answers, rather than searching for the answers myself.

 

[KJbushway]

I quit being stubborn and did a test. Metals and gases easily get my interest, so I looked them up on wiki, then looked at the references. Yes, wiki can be used a source of info or references to info, if you feel you can't trust it.

 

[Chaos Descending]

Wikipedia should not be comnsidered a primary source of information. How can a shock wave moving in a medium, outrace light?

Nobody said it should be a primary source, but it is a good primer and a lot better than being willfully ignorant on a topic.

I prefer to ask questions and have other people tell me the answers, rather than searching for the answers myself.

Me too. My wife hates that.