I expect that the star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion will erupt into a spectacular supernova sometime soon (soon in galactic terms which could be anytime between now and 10000 years from now). If it did it would be 100 times the brightness of the full moon.
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. C-beams glittering in the dark by the Tannhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain." -Blade Runner- :-)
Red Giant Beetlejuice sure is ripe, isn't it? I'd love to see that thing supernova.
Betelgeuse could have already gone supernova and we havn't realized it yet. Remember, it is about 600 light years away, so it could have blown up 500 years ago and we still don't know it.
Well that's just silly. That suggests that the B. supernova would be about 70% of the brightness of the sun. We would then experience either two suns (albeit one slightly dimmer) during the day or a 70% bright night, depending on the rotation of the earth.
In sum, we would likely be in a state of near perpetual light.