Huge red star might explode soon and next few weeks are critical [Betelgeuse update]

CNET ^ | February 10, 2020 | Eric Mack

[central_va]

I thought this was about Bernie. NM.

[central_va]

Only.

[central_va]

Will it kill the corona virus?

[samtheman]

It is a nitpick. We all know the facts of interstellar distances. It’s just convenient shorthand to say “it could explode any day now” rather than the more awkward “the explosion could have happened such that its light could be arriving any day now”.

And BTW (nitpick alert) it’s 640 light years away, not 700.

[Tommygun99]

E) All of the above.

[Delta 21]

So, anytime between 700 years ago and 100,000 years from now something might happen.

Where can I get a job where someone else pays me to set around and study crap thats never gonna happen or if it does it wont have any effect on humanity or it will be so massively catastrophic there wont be anything you can do about it?

Im good at that kinda crap!

[Campion]

642.5 light years, says Wikipedia.

[Campion]

Did Mr Wright not take physics? Special relativity answers this question:

1. You probably can't travel at the speed of light without using infinite energy to get there. Suppose you are traveling 1 mph less than the speed of light.
2. An outside observer sees the beam of light moving away from you at 1 mph (relative to your car) but 186,282 mi/sec relative to himself
3. You see the beam moving away from at the usual speed of light, 186,282 mi/sec

Wrapping your head around that result leads to all sorts of odd conclusions, like the one that says the fixed observer would see the clock in my moving car running much, much slower than his.

[JohnBovenmyer]

>Betelgeuse isn’t the right type of star to produce a GRB

Good, one layer of protection via theory. Do we know, as a second layer, the orientation of its poles well enough to say it wouldn’t ‘be pointed at us if the first theory were wrong? That much angular momentum is very unlikely to change its aim.

[JohnBovenmyer]

>Betelgeuse isn’t the right type of star to produce a GRB

Good, one layer of protection via theory. Do we know, as a second layer, the orientation of its poles well enough to say it wouldn’t ‘be pointed at us if the first theory were wrong? That much angular momentum is very unlikely to change its aim.

[Hatteras]

Seriously? Let’s see if I can explain it this way... Okay, Steven Wright is a comedian. He tells jokes.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Well, they have been able to get details of Betelgeuse’s surface using speckle interferometry, and one of the brighter spots is thought to be its pole. This is off center, so not pointed at us. But I doubt Betelgeuse is about to supernova anyway. I’ve heard another theory that it may have absorbed another star as it expanded into a supergiant, and still has plenty of fuel for another few million years. But you can never really be sure.

[hal ogen]

Yes. It could have exploded 699 years ago and we will see it next year.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Interesting idea. If true it has about 6 months until the silicon-burning phase, and then boom. If SN1987A was any indication, the neutrino front precedes the light curve by 2 to 3 hours.

[SunkenCiv]

It's like waiting for Ross and Rachel. :^)

[SunkenCiv]

The rest of the Betelgeuse keyword:

• Astronomers Detect a Burst of Gravitational Waves From The Direction of Betelgeuse [2020]
• An 'unknown' burst of gravitational waves just lit up Earth's detectors [2020]
• How Long Has It Been Since We Saw A Supernova? [2020]
• Is Betelgeuse About To Explode? [2019]
• A shift and acceleration coming in April[ Charismatic Caucus] [2018]
• Amazing New Views of Betelgeuse Courtesy of ALMA [2017]
• AMAZING NEW VIEWS OF BETELGEUSE COURTESY OF ALMA [2017]
• What Will Happen When Betelgeuse Explodes? [2017]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- A 212-Hour Exposure of Orion [2015]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Orion Over and Under Tibet [2015]
• Astroquizzical: What happens when Betelgeuse explodes? [2015]
• When Will Betelgeuse Explode? (Constellation Orion) [2014]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Gegenschein Over Chile [2014]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Hunter's Stars [2012]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Stardust and Betelgeuse [2011]
• Dying Star Betelgeuse Won't Explode in 2012, Experts Say [2011]
• Earth 'to get second sun this year' as supernova turns night into day (well, maybe) [2011]
• Is Betelgeuse about to blow? (going supernova in weeks or just another breathless rumor?) [2010]
• Astronomy Picture Of The Day [2009]
• Nearby Star May Be Getting Ready to Explode (Supernova) [2009]
• Giant star Betelgeuse mysteriously shrinking: study [2009]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day 3-21-03 [2003]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day 2-07-03 [2003]
• Astronomy Picture of the Day 12-25-02 [2002]

[Chengdu54]

I won’t hold my breath.

[BenLurkin]

Hope springs eternal....

[BenLurkin]

The only interesting character in that show, imo.

[laplata]

Lol We’ll find out I guess.