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06-10-2009, 01:10 PM
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m. Sons of the Republic of Texas
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Nearby Star May Be Getting Ready to Explode
Bye-bye, Betelgeuse?
A nearby, well-known and very bright star may soon explode in a supernova, according to data released by U.C. Berkeley researchers Tuesday.
The red giant Betelgeuse, once so large it would reach out to Jupiter's orbit if placed in our own solar system, has shrunk by 15 percent over the past decade in a half, although it's just as bright as it's ever been.
Nearby Star May Be Getting Ready to Explode - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News - FOXNews.com
06.09.2009 - Red giant star Betelgeuse mysteriously shrinking
The Great Beyond: Betelgeuse about to blow?
   
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06-10-2009, 01:43 PM
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As near as I can tell, there's no precise measurement of the size of Betelgeuse because the gas surrounding it both radiates and absorbs light. If it does explode, it should provide an impressive, non-dangerous, light show 600 years after the explosion. Ande ven if Betelgeuse blows out of existance, the gas clouds ejected from it may provide material for the birth of new stars.
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06-10-2009, 06:34 PM
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I'm very glad it is 640 light years away. My only concern is the axis of rotation. When neutron stars form, they create shafts of gamma radiation. Not saying that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is going to go that route, but just raising the issue as a topic of discussion.
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06-10-2009, 08:09 PM
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m. Sons of the Republic of Texas
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I saw a documentary on the subject about 4 or 5 months ago and Betelgeuse came up. If it did go super nova and it was pointed in our direction, we would be toast! Regardless, we should have 600 years notice, unless it did it 600 years ago and we're about to be toast now. What can I say, betwseen Jellystone Park, volcano on islands off African coast that can slide into ocean creating 600 foot sunamie (sp), Volcanos in far east, earthquakes in LA, North Korea, Pakistan, Iran, just somthing else to be concerned about. Nice.
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06-10-2009, 08:17 PM
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06-13-2009, 02:05 AM
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Yeah, I hope scientists watch this one carefully. If it looks like it is going to collapse into a neutron star with an axis of neutron radiation pointed in our direction, or a pulsar, then we're in deep doo doo. Time for those underground colonies!
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06-13-2009, 10:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eskercurve
Yeah, I hope scientists watch this one carefully. If it looks like it is going to collapse into a neutron star with an axis of neutron radiation pointed in our direction, or a pulsar, then we're in deep doo doo. Time for those underground colonies!
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Wouldn't work. Seriously, there would be nothing that could be done to shield life in such a situation. The good news is the distance and the fairly narrow beam make such a situation EXTREMELY improbable. |
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06-16-2009, 10:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gy2020
I saw a documentary on the subject about 4 or 5 months ago and Betelgeuse came up. If it did go super nova and it was pointed in our direction, we would be toast! Regardless, we should have 600 years notice, unless it did it 600 years ago and we're about to be toast now. What can I say, betwseen Jellystone Park, volcano on islands off African coast that can slide into ocean creating 600 foot sunamie (sp), Volcanos in far east, earthquakes in LA, North Korea, Pakistan, Iran, just somthing else to be concerned about. Nice.
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I think the volcanic islands(I forget their name) have fractured into a landslide before and are close again. Water intrusions between volcanic columns are destabilizing the entire western side of the island. Back on track if people are not aware check out www.WorldWideTelescope.org it is a great site ....you can rotate planets etc.  |
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06-17-2009, 02:37 PM
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This enormous star will destroy us all! Arrrrghhhhh!!!!!! ( Runs off screaming and jumps out a window)
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06-17-2009, 10:50 PM
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What was that? It felt like a sudden change in the force... as if thousands of voices suddenly cried out in terror and then were silent.
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