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Huge red star might explode soon and next few weeks are critical [Betelgeuse update]
CNET ^ | February 10, 2020 | Eric Mack

Posted on 02/10/2020 10:33:13 PM PST by BenLurkin

Supergiant star Betelgeuse has been getting dimmer at an unprecedented pace over the past few months, leading some astronomers to wonder if it might be in the process of the collapse that precedes a supernova explosion. But there are other possible explanations, and we should have a better idea of what's happening to the massive star by the end of the month.

Betelgeuse has no more than about 100,000 years left to burn and could start its death throes just about anytime between now and then. When it does go supernova, it's expected to result in a dramatic light show that could be visible in daylight and appear brighter than the full moon for a few weeks. The last time humans were treated to such a sight was the 17th century.

Betelgeuse is a well-known variable star that pulsates over a variety of time periods.

"This whole episode might just be a deeper-than-average pulsation, and perhaps the supernova watch can be called off,"

The most recent data from Guinan's team shows that Betelgeuse could be going through an extended 430-day pulsation. If this is the case, then it should reach its dimmest point on Feb. 21 (with a margin of error of about a week on either side).

However, Guinan and colleagues note that Betelgeuse still appears to be even dimmer than it should be during such an extended pulsation. This could mean that there are multiple factors at work in the great fainting of the giant star.

"So something very unusual is going on,"

(Excerpt) Read more at cnet.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; betelgeuse; gammaraybursts; nova; redstar; science; supernova
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To: JohnBovenmyer
Do we really want a supernova going off only 700 light years away?

That's a good question, and I don't know the answer. I do know that we don't want to be anywhere near a Gamma Ray Burst, and 700 light years might be too close for that. A Gamma Ray Burst is kind of like a supernova, except it is more a directional energy burst like a laser rather than a spherical explosion of a supernova.

21 posted on 02/10/2020 11:04:20 PM PST by Vince Ferrer
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To: higgmeister

Oh, year-after-year, too


22 posted on 02/10/2020 11:04:55 PM PST by higgmeister ( In the Shadow of The Big Chicken)
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To: BenLurkin

No mention in the article of the gravity bumps that LIGO and Virgo picked up. My theory is the star just added another layer of element formation. Perhaps it is making silicon in the core now. From what I’ve read about it a huge boost of Neutrinos will happen shortly before it explodes.


23 posted on 02/10/2020 11:07:27 PM PST by Nateman ( Unless the left is screaming you are doing it wrong.)
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To: BenLurkin
Karl Jenkins - Benedictus

Stay with it.

24 posted on 02/10/2020 11:09:47 PM PST by Vince Ferrer
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To: BenLurkin
And what about KIC 9832227? Anyone ever recrunch the numbers?

"So something very unusual is going on,"

***

I suspect that a history report is about due. It had better be something very special. Herman the Kid, Bob Genghis Khan, So-crates Johnson...

25 posted on 02/10/2020 11:09:49 PM PST by Ezekiel (The pun is mightier than the s-word. Goy to the World!)
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To: Vince Ferrer
It might sound like a nitpick, but whatever is happening to Betelgeuse that we are seeing today happened 700 years ago. I think it is an interesting thing to think about at least.

That was my first thought. The only thing happening in the next few weeks is that we find out what happened centuries ago.

26 posted on 02/10/2020 11:16:52 PM PST by drop 50 and fire for effect ("Work relentlessly, accomplish much, remain in the background, and be more than you seem.")
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To: Mark17

If something is traveling towards you at the speed of light,
you won’t see it coming.


27 posted on 02/10/2020 11:29:36 PM PST by Repeal The 17th (Get out of the matrix and get a real life)
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To: BenLurkin

By Betelgeuse going supernova “soon,” they mean 642 years ago. The light we are seeing from this star takes a while to get to us. Good thing, too, because were it 150 light years away or closer, we’d be devastated by such an event.


28 posted on 02/10/2020 11:35:19 PM PST by Redmen4ever (u)
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To: SunkenCiv

“Well... we’re waiting !”


29 posted on 02/10/2020 11:39:46 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Dear Mr. Kotter, #Epsteindidntkillhimself - Signed, Epstein's Mother)
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To: Mark17

It seems like almost every article I read like this leave out the fact that we are only seeing things that happened so long ago. This is actually the 2nd misleading article on star events that I have seen today.

Earlier I read about a repeating radio type signal that was being picked up from someplace 500,000 light years away. The article failed to mention that they are hearing something that was sourced from 500,000 years ago. A lot can change in that amount of time.


30 posted on 02/10/2020 11:50:15 PM PST by Revel
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To: BenLurkin
Guinan? What's the bartender doing in stellar cartography?

🖖

CC

31 posted on 02/10/2020 11:56:38 PM PST by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV)
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To: Repeal The 17th
If something is traveling towards you at the speed of light, you won’t see it coming.

LOL. I don’t think I will lose any sleep over it. 😁

32 posted on 02/11/2020 12:14:25 AM PST by Mark17 (Father of US Air Force Officer in pilot training. Air Force aircraft, go faster than Army tanks)
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To: Mark17

No. That means if we see it explode it happened 700 years ago.


33 posted on 02/11/2020 12:19:44 AM PST by Louis Foxwell (A deep and terrible ignorance born of abject corruption is required to hate our president.)
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To: BenLurkin

Of the following objects careening through the Universe toward the end of their useful lives, which is the most dangerous to Earth:

A) Betelgeuse

B) Some unknown asteroid

C) Bernie Sanders

D) Joe Biden


34 posted on 02/11/2020 12:20:56 AM PST by Paul R. (The Lib / Socialist goal: Total control of nothing left worth controlling.)
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To: JohnBovenmyer

DANGER DANGER


35 posted on 02/11/2020 12:21:06 AM PST by Louis Foxwell (A deep and terrible ignorance born of abject corruption is required to hate our president.)
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To: jmacusa
Betelgeuse is actually only 430 light years away.

That changes everything. In 270 years I could be really old.

36 posted on 02/11/2020 12:22:45 AM PST by Louis Foxwell (A deep and terrible ignorance born of abject corruption is required to hate our president.)
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To: laplata
I was about to ask if that thing can do us harm,

Don't ask. Don't tell.

37 posted on 02/11/2020 12:23:52 AM PST by Louis Foxwell (A deep and terrible ignorance born of abject corruption is required to hate our president.)
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To: Vince Ferrer
They are missing an opportunity to explain the vastness of space.

Even if the fish can see the surroundings of it's aquarium, could it ever really grasp the reality of it?

I suspect even the "vastness" of space isn't really vast compared to outside the aquarium.

38 posted on 02/11/2020 12:25:54 AM PST by rawcatslyentist (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfuAJcWl6DE Kill a Commie for Mommie)
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To: Louis Foxwell
“In 270 years I could be old’’. I'll be 64 in April but I identify as 46.
39 posted on 02/11/2020 12:30:20 AM PST by jmacusa ("If wisdom is not the Lord, what is wisdom?)
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To: NELSON111
Yes-and it means if it exploded it could have done so in 1330 and we won’t know it for another decade. But-if it does happen-it will not be good if it’s pointed this direction.

But if it exploded in 1310 we saw it 10 years ago and I do not remember that.

Unless Betelgeuse is only 470 light years away in which case it might have happened in 1550 and that means IT IS HAPPENING TO US RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW. It is time to panic!!

Do super novas point? I didn't know that. I am going to hide behind a tree for a while.

40 posted on 02/11/2020 12:30:47 AM PST by Louis Foxwell (A deep and terrible ignorance born of abject corruption is required to hate our president.)
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