How did the Seinfeld people miss the picture of George complaining about shrinkage?
“The distance to Betelgeuse is not known with precision but if this is assumed to be 640 light years, the star’s diameter would be about 950 to 1000 times that of the Sun. Betelgeuse has a color index (B-V) of 1.86 and is thought to have a mass of about 20 solar masses.[3]
It is likely that Betelgeuse will become a supernova.[3][19] Considering its size and age of 8.5 million years – old for its size class – it may explode within the next thousand years—if it hasn’t already.[19] Since its rotational axis is not toward the Earth, Betelgeuse’s supernova would NOT cause a gamma ray burst in the direction of Earth large enough to damage its ecosystem even from a relatively close proximity of 640 light years.[19]
A Betelgeuse supernova could easily outshine the Moon in the night sky.[19] It will likely be the brightest supernova in recorded Human history, easily outshining SN 1006. After it explodes, it will likely linger for several months, being visible in the daytime sky and lighting up nighttime skies in the Solar System for a long time, after which the “right shoulder” of Orion will disappear forever.”
>>>I see a grant for $ 6 trillion dollars to educate the rest of the species in the constellation that it’s our fault.
That or some Biblical non-sequitor seems to be becoming the standard FR reply to ANY science story. Personally if this phenomenon continues I want and expect the science community to study the heck out of it and determine if it does or does not portend the death of the star. Absent interstellar flight we would never get a better or cheaper view of such a rare occurrence.
You're right - BUT NASA's too busy consulting with Al Gore about the latest crackpot theory to deal with this important wonder...