New supernova may occur near to earth

New supernova may occur near to earth

www.msnbc.msn.com

Astronomers have detected a star 7,500 light years from earth, Eta Carinae, that indicates that it may be going nova.

(visit the link for the full news article)

However, this won't just be a supernova, but rather a "hypernova" in which matter and antimatter combine and explode with a force far greater than a supernova. This would emit gamma rays. A similar gamma ray emission from an exploding star is thought to have caused a widespread extinction on earth 200 million years ago by wiping out our ozone layer and allowing the sun's UV rays to burn all the surface life into extinction. Will we be ready this time? Is this why the underground bases are being constructed?

www.msnbc.msn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Well, we have 7,500 years to be ready, surely?

EDIT: Sorry, I was being dumb. I forgot that the explosion itself, when seen, would have happened 7,500 years ago and once we see the explosion, we will also be exposed to any GRB's from the star...

It's nearly 3 AM, so allow my little balls-up there hehehe

[edit on 7/5/07 by stumason]

You are forgiven; I posted a thread a week ago theorizing about this and coincidentally, this news came out today. Wierd, huh? Check out my other thread so I don't have to type so much...

www.abovetopsecret.com...

[edit on 7-5-2007 by j_kalin]

The extinction event that was refered to was 440 million years ago.

Here is a link from the article. The article states that due to the orientation of the star, the earth may not get hit by the gamma ray burst. If one wants to trust in that. Good news is that it may not occur for 1000s of years.