Exposure Data
- Lens: Nikon 500mm f/4 ED telephoto
- F/stop: 4
- Exposure: Composite of two 30 minute exposures
- Film: Gas-hypersensitized Kodak PJM-2 film
- Filter: Lumicon Deep Sky filter
- Exposure start: 04:24 UT and 04:56 UT
- Date: October 12, 1996
- Location: Promised Land State Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Temp: 21 F
- Dew: 9
- Transparency: 8
- Seeing:5
- Notes: Dew turned to frost, covers everything
We may be overdue for a supernova in our Milky Way; one hasn't been seen in this galaxy in 400 years.
Astronomers keep an eye on various suspect stars, but of course estimating a star's demise timeline is guesswork. One star could explode tomorrow or a thousand years from now. Another could have already gone supernova a century ago; our great-grandchildren's great-grandchildren might see it. Who knows?
When the light from a Milky Way supernova does arrive here at Earth, it will be an event to remember. Imagine a point of light shining brighter than a full Moon...
This space art is a concept of Betelgeuse in Orion going supernova. Betelgeuse is a prime candidate as it seems to be about out of nuclear "fuel" which supports the star against its own gravity.
