Is Betelgeuse about to supernova?

[Analoguesat]

A prominent star which forms part of the Orion constellation could soon explode, space experts say.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkley, say the giant red Betelgeuse has shrunk by 15% since 1993 and could turn into a supernova.


_http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090611/twl-is-shrinking-star-about-to-blow-up-i-3fd0ae9.html

15% in under 20 years - thats a massive drop in size for a star!

 

[Llew]

As it's 600 light years away, it's probably history now

Llew

 

[Channel Hopper]

When they say 'soon', it might not be worth getting the binoculars out for another few weeks, but she should be quite a sight when she finally goes.

 

[2cvbloke]

As it's 600 light years away, it's probably history now

Llew

I was thinking that as I was reading AS's post...

 

[Analoguesat]

Certainly will be one hell of a sight when she blows - Beetlejooce is a fine sight in northern skies in the autumn/winter

 

[JTA]

let's just hope that it won't collapse into a neutron star whose jet-stream is pointed in our direction, or we might get a lethal dose of radiation, even at 600 lightyears (which is just next door, if you look at the size of the universe)

 

[Channel Hopper]

Reading further, it appears that the star is only now exhausting up its hydrogen stock and needs to go many stages further (through the Helium/carbon /heavier elements) before it goes out with a bang.

I have no info on the current spectroscopy of Betelgeuse at the moment, but I can presume that the only change we might see for at least a thousand or so years, is a variation in luminosity, and colour change to blue, or white-blue.

Since Llew has also brought the time / distance equation into the fold, this might mean that any civilisations that were under threat from the changes might now be buzzing round this solar system, if they left using some light-speed technology. So keep an eye out for any unusual activity (bright lights or a sore arse after seeing bright lights)

Any budding astronomers out there with some better ideas ?

 

[dig deep]

Well, we are talking millions of years

No need for any binoculars.

But it will be a BOOOM for sure.

As it is 600 LY away it means that we will be 600 years late for the show

 

[PaulR]

It'll make a bit of a mess of Orion when it goes pop!

 

[T_G]

It'll make a bit of a mess of Orion when it goes pop!

Well any star named after a Ford car deserves it

 

[Channel Hopper]

Well any star named after a Ford car deserves it

The Ford Betelgeuse ?

Was it imported into the UK ?

 

[PaulR]

The Ford Betelgeuse ?

Was it imported into the UK ?

My thoughts exactly!

Which brings me slightly off topic to game we used to play, of making up inappropriate names for cars - funnily enough it was usually a Ford that benefited from our "marketing".

I can remember that we came up with the Ford Polecat and Ford Skunk amongst others.

Anyway :-topic

 

[Channel Hopper]

OK, back on topic.

If Betegeuse does go nova, the light from it would be at a brilliance somewhere between the full night moon and the sun on a cloudy day, which means for a year or so, the earth will be bathed in plenty of light by a third celestial object, one that moves in relation to the near universe, rather than annual or monthly variation.

The invisible cosmic radiation will appear at roughly the same time as the event, meaning that many satellites will get a severe battering from X/gamma rays. Manned flight into space will need to be overhauled, and the ISS crew may need to take shelter in the more shielded parts for about 20 minutes every hour.

Any real particles from Betelgeuse will take some 50,000 years to reach us, but there should be some constant (and decent) meteor showers daily for everybodys offspring.

One last piece of information, Orion may look like a close group of stars, but these are all at different distances to the earth. Additionally within the constellation there are nebulae containing containing groups of stars which appear as one to the eye.
If one was to use the distance of your computer monitor to your eye (about 80cms or so), as the distance of the sun to the outer planets, the Orion constellation as we know it would extend from about 80 to 280 miles away, or between Newbury and Penzance if viewed from London.

It may be close in galactical terms, but its not particularly close with the spacecraft we currently use to get off this planet. Voyager has so far taken thirty years to get just over a yard, even with help from 'swing-bys'.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Some interesting comments below this article

_http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17282-betelgeuse-the-incredible-shrinking-star.html

 

[dig deep]

Talking about Ford, the Orion was a very good friend to the Egypths some 4kyears back.

Perhaps they knew what would be the outcome ?

I was told that there really is no problems for the Skylab.

Humans will be long gone before this happen

 

[PaulR]

The Ford Orion.

Of course!

I was thinking that T_G was referring to the Ford Galaxy.

 

[Channel Hopper]

And there I was thinking of the Taurus.

 

[dig deep]

Galaxy sounds better, a great car it was.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Ten years later, same old headlines.

ATel #13365: Updates on the "Fainting" of Betelgeuse

www.astronomerstelegram.org

The dimming this time is constant however.

 

[PaulR]

Whoof. That was a rattling good read.