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Originally posted by Krusty the Klown
Originally posted by theRhenn
If it's 640 light years away, I would think that it would take litteraly 640 years to be seen by us. Not in our lifetimes, folx.
I think you might be looking at this from the wrong perspective.
If we can see it and it took place 640 years ago that means the event took place 640 years ago we are just seeing it now.
If the star exploded right this minute, the image or light of the event would take 640 years to reach planet Earth for us to see it.
So when it does go supernova there will be a 640 year wait for us to see it.
At the other corner of Orion is without a doubt the biggest single thing you've ever seen, Betelgeuse. It's more than 20 times the mass and more than 1,100 times the diameter of our sun, giving Betelgeuse an estimated girth of about one billion miles across. It's so large that if you put it in the place of our sun in our solar system, the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and even Jupiter would be living inside Betelgeuse
Betelgeuse's diameter and reddish hue are due to the fact that it's already near the end of its very short life. Most astronomers estimate that Betelgeuse isn't much more than a few million years old and it's already expended its hydrogen and helium fuel to the point where it's puffed out in the red giant phase of its brief life. No one really knows for sure, but in maybe less than 10,000 years, a thousand years, or even next year, it could blow itself up in a tremendous supernova explosion, making it brighter than the full moon in our night skies for several weeks. It's a good thing that Betelgeuse is more than 400 light years away from Earth because if it was much closer, it could make for a really bad day here on Earth. In fact, it's believed by many astronomers that if Betelgeuse exploded within a hundred light years of Earth, the radiation from the blast could change or eliminate life as we know it on our planet. Keep your distance, Betelgeuse!
Originally posted by dalepmay
reply to post by Krusty the Klown
Correct me if I am wrong, but that is about 640 light years from us. Meaning we won't see it happen until 640 years from now.
Originally posted by theRhenn
Originally posted by Krusty the Klown
Originally posted by theRhenn
If it's 640 light years away, I would think that it would take litteraly 640 years to be seen by us. Not in our lifetimes, folx.
I think you might be looking at this from the wrong perspective.
If we can see it and it took place 640 years ago that means the event took place 640 years ago we are just seeing it now.
If the star exploded right this minute, the image or light of the event would take 640 years to reach planet Earth for us to see it.
So when it does go supernova there will be a 640 year wait for us to see it.
Perhaps i'm wrong, but it seems that, since we're seeing this "up close" with a telescope. Perception doesnt begind at the eye if you're using a magnifying instrument to see it. In a sense, you're defying the speed of light.edit on 19-1-2011 by theRhenn because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Stargate2012
I think if this explodes it would be the "Blue Star"
And I have a theory due to some research as to when this might actually explode!
This is the star of Wormwood!edit on 19-1-2011 by Stargate2012 because: (no reason given)