Nearby Star May Be Getting Ready to Explode (Supernova)

Fox News ^ | June 10th, 2009

[TaraP]

A bright star may soon explode in a supernova, according to data released by U.C. Berkeley researchers Tuesday.

The red giant Betelgeuse, once so large it would reach out to Jupiter's orbit if placed in our own solar system, has shrunk by 15 percent over the past decade in a half, although it's just as bright as it's ever been.

"To see this change is very striking," said retired Berkeley physics professor Charles Townes, who won the 1964 Nobel Prize for inventing the laser. "We will be watching it carefully over the next few years to see if it will keep contracting or will go back up in size."

Betelgeuse, whose name derives from Arabic, is easily visible in the constellation Orion. It gave Michael Keaton's character his name in the movie "Beetlejuice" and was the home system of Galactic President Zaphod Beeblebrox in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

[JRios1968]

Don’t say it 3 times...

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Cross linking.

Giant star Betelgeuse mysteriously shrinking: study.

[DirtyHarryY2K]

How soon?

[LdSentinal]

If it exploded, it happened 15 years ago.

No worries for a Gamma Ray burst though, yes?

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Last week, next month, next century.

[null and void]

12/21/2012...

[neodad]

Ping.

[LdSentinal]

Make that 600 years ago.

[Larry Lucido]

Mayan your own business.

[OneWingedShark]

It was the size of Jupiter’s orbit, but has reduced by 15%... I’m guessing that would put it about the size of Mars’s orbit (slightly bigger).

Of course that’s just an off-the-cuff-guess.

[null and void]

I knew I was making a mistake the instant I put Inca to paper..

[SoldierDad]

Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse

Can't control my impulsivity tonight.

[DirtyHarryY2K]

From the article:

If so, the star, which is 600 light-years away, will already have exploded — and we'll soon be in for a spectacular, and perfectly safe, interstellar fireworks show.

[hosepipe]

[ Nearby Star May Be Getting Ready to Explode ]

-OR- just set there doing nothing..

[steelyourfaith]

Where’s the obligatory “caused by Global Warming”?

[Tuketu]

If it exploded 15 years ago, we have discovered the source of “Climate Change”

[JRandomFreeper]

So.... We've got 600 years +/- the time it takes from now until it implodes(has imploded/may implode) to make sure we're not in the way.

This actually has me worried. The work on North Central Expressway through Dallas won't be complete.

/johnny

[onedoug]

It sure would be something to see in our lifetimes.

[ClaudiusI]

This is a red SUPERgiant by the way, it will make Supernova 1054 pale by comparison. SN1054 could be seen during the daytime and cast shadows at night.