Betelgeuse - worrying? - probably not

[AleisterCrowley]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswith ... 3fb5f343a2
"The stars in the night sky, normally static and unchanging, have an exception currently among them. Betelgeuse, the red supergiant that makes up one of the "shoulders" of the constellation Orion, has been not only fluctuating in brightness, but dimming in a fashion never before witnessed by living humans...
There's no scientific reason to believe that Betelgeuse is in any more danger of going supernova today than at any random day over the next ~100,000 years or so, but many of us — including a great many professional and amateur astronomers — are hoping to witness the first naked-eye supernova in our galaxy since 1604. Although it won't pose a danger to us, it will be spectacular."

[Leothebear]

If it did it'd be the most fantastic sight. In my life the best for me was Hale Bopp. A supernova trumps that.

[bungeejumper]

You're both sure it'd be a harmless experience for us earthlings? I know it's a long way from here, but I've read too much sci-fi, and TBH there's rather a lot at stake. Douglas Adams would have enjoyed it, though.

BJ

[AleisterCrowley]

Well apparently the death zone is a mere 50 light years, and we're ~640 light years away

The neutrino storm may turn us all into flesh-eating zombie mutants though.

[richlist]

Surely if this is ~640 light years away whatever it is you think is gonna happen has already happened and we will merely be viewing the event in 'catch up' ?

[AleisterCrowley]

well yes, it's like ITV +1, or whatever it's called
If it happened 'now', it would only be visible in 640 years, just in time to illuminate the final Brexit agreement, and the end of the DFS sale

[simsqu]

If it happened 'now', it would only be visible in 640 years, just in time to illuminate the final Brexit agreement, and the end of the DFS sale

Oh come on AC be realistic. I think we'll see Betelguese go supernova before the end of the BHS sale

[AleisterCrowley]

Unlikely as BHS closed down in 2016
-have you been on the sherry again?

[PinkDalek]

Unlikely as BHS closed down in 2016
-have you been on the sherry again?

Campari, no doubt, but maybe he's joined the hipsters:

https://www.bhs.com/table/table-lamps

Yes, I know!

[simsqu]

Unlikely as BHS closed down in 2016
-have you been on the sherry again?

Campari, no doubt

Mixture of both I'm afraid, and I made the unforgiveable error of mixing the Campari with a courgette

[Lootman]

It will really mess with the constellation of Orion, which currently has a pleasing symmetry to it.

But given that there is already one prominent nebula thereabouts - the Horsehead Nebula, a part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, that part of the sky will continue to be a treasure trove of optical delights. Close by is the Pleiades Star Cluster and, in the same direction, the Andromeda Galaxy. All are visible with a moderate-sized telescope on a clear winter's night to the South.

And of course the resultant cataclysm will create many new suns and planets. There are several positive aspects to a star dying and especially a red giant. Always look on the bright side of life.

[AleisterCrowley]

It cleared briefly last night so I had a look at Orion - Betelgeuse is noticeably dimmer than usual
It's all very odd as we are used to the stars being a constant backdrop- with the dynamic stuff being planets, comets, meteors (and the ISS...)
( I know Betelgeuse, and many others, are 'variables' but I cant say I've ever noticed significant changes)

[marronier]

Given that Betelgeuse is 642 light years or 197 parsec distant from Earth , it would seem that whatever happen/s/ed , occurred while Geoffrey Chaucer was writing "The Canterbury Tales ".


OK, so far.

[jfgw]

Something at least as bright as the moon could presumably affect some wildlife,
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/moo ... nar-phases .

Personally, I think anything directed by Tim Burton is worrying .

Julian F. G. W.

[AleisterCrowley]

https://www.cnet.com/news/massive-star- ... ted-scale/

Still dimming...