ESO/L.Calcada
Posted on 02/04/2011 8:43:37 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
ESO/L.Calcada
The supergiant star Betelgeuse has a vast plume of gas almost as large as our Solar System and a gigantic bubble boiling on its surface, shown in this artist's impression.
The super-giant red star Betelgeuse in Orion’s nebula is predicted to cataclysmically explode, and the impending supernova may even reach Earth -- someday.
But will it happen by 2012, as recent news reports suggest? Probably not, experts told FoxNews.com. While the second biggest star in the universe is strangely losing mass -- and has already become a red giant, meaning it is destined to explode and become a supernova -- there's no reason to believe that it will happen anytime soon.
"The story is pretty 'Hollywoody,'" said New Jersey Institute of Technology professor Philip R. Goode. In reality, the stars eventual explosion is inevitable, but no one knows when it will happen, he explained -- 2012 is pure conjecture.
"Betelgeuse is a red supergiant and should supernova at some time. When? Who knows?" he told FoxNews.com.
Phil Plait, an astronomer who writes for Discovery News, agrees that someday, Betelgeuse will go gangbusters. But it’s way too far away to hurt us, he explained.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
"Ah. Well... I attended Juilliard... I'm a graduate of the Harvard business school. I travel quite extensively. I lived through the Black Plague and had a pretty good time during that. I've seen the EXORCIST ABOUT A HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN TIMES, AND IT KEEPS GETTING FUNNIER EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE IT... NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO A DEAD GUY... NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK? You think I'm qualified?"
In other news, Michael Keaton will explode in 2013.
"It's showtime..."
Betelgeuse!
Betelgeuse!
Betelgeuse!
That is really remarkable, when you think about it.
Mike
Precession on the other hand, if it starts this year, I can see that creating a lot of havoc.
What can you expect from a star that has in it’s name a rock group’s name and a synonym for electricity?
Really? The universe?
I might buy the in the galaxy. Or better 'As far as we know, in the milky way galaxy.'
Whatever “will” happen already happened 500 years ago.
I am sure he is right in this case, but, I fully agree that Phil Plait is indeed a bad astronomer.
Ever since he started to buy in to the whole Algore version of Global Warming, I just totally lost respect for him.
If Betelgeuse went super-nova 100 years ago we wouldn’t know about it for another 500 years.
IIRC, “Betelgeuse” (sp varies) is about 495 light years away.
So a GOOD science reporter would point out that likely the star is already a supernova, having exploded generations ago; but we will not see the light from that event for a number of years, perhaps in 2012.
Betelgeuse is Orion’s right shoulder, presuming he is facing us. A clear night sky in the northern hemisphere makes Betelgeuse readily visible up an to the left of Orion’s belt. Start looking about 9 - 11 PM. You can see it well with the naked eye.
Ah yes, someone less remembers that South East Asian band, The Betels...
And for darn sure, a Milky Way candy bar.
Perhaps someone can take the FoxNews writer aside and explain to him/her that, if Betelgeuse were to “explode” in 2012, we wouldn’t know about it until somtime in 2650...
LOL, good one, and so true ...
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