amalmirando said:With so much hype going around as to Betelgeuse turning into a supernovae in 2012, wonder whether it is possible to predict such an occurrence correct to at least a decade...
Nik_2213 said:With a bit of luck, we'll see it blowing a really big, juicy, complex planetary nebula before it goes...
DROBNJAK said:Belegeuse is one of the closest stars. If it blows up, can it nuke us?
DROBNJAK said:Belegeuse is one of the closest stars. If it blows up, can it nuke us?
Belelgeuse, also known as Alpha Orionis, is a red supergiant star located in the constellation Orion. It is one of the largest and brightest stars in the night sky, and has a diameter about 1000 times that of our Sun.
A supernova is a powerful and extremely bright explosion that occurs when a massive star reaches the end of its life. In the case of Belelgeuse, it will eventually run out of fuel and collapse in on itself, triggering a supernova event.
It is difficult to predict exactly when Belelgeuse will turn into a supernova, as it is a complex process influenced by various factors. However, scientists estimate that it could happen within the next 100,000 years.
When Belelgeuse explodes as a supernova, it will release an enormous amount of energy and emit intense radiation. The star will also produce heavy elements through nuclear fusion, which will be scattered into space and eventually contribute to the formation of new stars and planets.
Belelgeuse is located about 642 light years away from Earth, which is far enough that the supernova explosion itself will not have a direct impact on our planet. However, the sudden increase in brightness and energy from the explosion may be visible from Earth and could potentially affect our planet's atmosphere.