[John Chapman (OP)]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but a bloke down the pub told me the other day that Betelgeuse, one of our near neighbouring stars, is in the process of supernova-ing. Before you can say ‘pass the suntan lotion’ we are all going to be frizzled to a frazzle with more gamma rays than you can shake a stick at.

Apparently, Betelgeuse is a red super-giant, is one of the brightest stars in the sky and has a diameter about 1,000 times greater than the sun. If you could swap our Sun with Betelgeuse it would actually engulf the solar system as far out as Jupiter. It is HUGE. Except that it is shrinking.

This guy said that when a star has finished all it’s nuclear fusion there is no outward blast supporting its body and it collapses in on itself before going bang. The resulting explosion releases more energy over about a week than the star did over it’s entire life of millions, or sometimes billions, of years. Betelgeuse will briefly shine brighter than all the other stars of the galaxy put together. The shockwave (although he didn’t explain how a shockwave can pass through the vacuum of space) will be felt throughout the galaxy.

Anyway, as I said Betelgeuse is shrinking. It is 15% smaller than it was 15 years ago. And it’s shrink rate is increasing. When you consider the cosmic timescales of a star’s lifetime, 15% in 15 years is a freefall into total collapse. It’s about to go bang!

I was intending to plant a load of potatoes this weekend. Is there any point?
 

[RD]

Betelgeuse is one of Orion's shoulders ...

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http://outreach.atnf.csiro.au/education/senior/astrophysics/photometry_colour.html#photmcolhuman

It is quite far away (640 light years) and thankfully it's axis of rotation is not pointing at Earth ...

It is possible that Betelgeuse will become a supernova, [4][21] which will be the brightest ever recorded, outshining the Moon in the night sky.[21] Considering its size and age of 8.5 million years, old for its size class, it may explode within the next thousand years.[21] Since its rotational axis is not toward the Earth and also because of its 640 light year distance,[21] Betelgeuse's supernova will not cause a gamma ray burst in the direction of Earth large enough to damage its ecosystem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betelgeuse

[neilep]

As a sheepy I am of course very worried about this.

Need I put my pants on ' Poo Alert ? '

[John Chapman (OP)]

Hi RD (or should I say Zaphod)

I noted your comments and passed them on to the real expert, that bloke down the pub. He said ‘No. We’re definitely all going to die’.

Mind you he then went on to tell me I was his beshtest mate in all the world and he really, really loves me.

So I came home and hit the internet to look for both doomsday and non doomsday scenarios.

I found one webpage called “Apocalypse Soon: Supernova Betelgeuse is Coming”

http://scienceray.com/astronomy/apocalypse-soon-supernova-betelgeuse-is-coming/

To paraphrase, this site says that explosion blast and various emissions might affect us, a little bit.

Every other site says exactly the same as your earlier post. This may mean that you are correct. Or it may mean that you are part of an advance party from the Orion constellation itself, secretly planning to move all your mates onto our charred planet once your own exploding star has both destroyed your present home planet and conveniently exterminated all us pesky humans from this one. You would obviously have the technological know-how to be able to adjust all references to your own dying star on our internet.

I’ll say no more. Other users can decide for themselves.


 

[neilep]

Poop alert initiated !!



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[Don_1]

Oh crumbs! should I ensure a good supply of clean underwear too? Uh, I have strange feeling I think, I think I'm being po po possessed by some strange force, yes I am being posse.........

Spriggle doffper knoon scrunge. Hello Earthlings. I are Ptoor, of the planet Mndiir. I bring you news of the situation regarding 'Fywoo Tgiih' (Earth English language - Betelgeuse).

I are taking control of the Earthling Don_1 to communicate with you. Fear not, he will be returned to his normal thicko state once I have finnished.

Hear on the planet Mindiir, we have been aware of the demise of Fywoo Tgiih (EEL - Betelgeuse) for 1000 orbits (EEL - 50,000 years). We have calculated that the star will become a Yuda-treeke (EEL - Supanova) in Earth year 2012. We suspect this have thingsome to do with your 'Olympic Games'.

But you need no be concerned. We and our close friends from the planet Uir Uid have constructing a hty wrop (EEL - cardboard box) into what we are putting Betelgeuse when the time is wright. This are protecting us all from the julippto (EEL - radiation) what will be exuded by the transformation of Betelgeuse from red giant to white dwarf.

If you have any queres you can unimail me at ptoor@mndiirplanet.uni and I are be pleased to heelp you two understood our plans.

I now return Don_1 to you.

Ooer, I feel all strange, I think I'm going to be thick!

[John Chapman (OP)]

 

But you need no be concerned. We and our close friends from the planet Uir Uid have constructing a hty wrop (EEL - cardboard box) into what we are putting Betelgeuse when the time is wright. This are protecting us all from the julippto (EEL - radiation) what will be exuded by the transformation of Betelgeuse from red giant to white dwarf.

Oh. Well that's OK then.

OK MY ARSE!

Everyone! Everyone! Watch out. Aliens are possessing Forum members to communicate with Earth. This explains neilep and chem4me!
 

[Herman Melville]

Oh crumbs! should I ensure a good supply of clean underwear too? Uh, I have strange feeling I think, I think I'm being po po possessed by some strange force, yes I am being posse.........

Spriggle doffper knoon scrunge. Hello Earthlings. I are Ptoor, of the planet Mndiir. I bring you news of the situation regarding 'Fywoo Tgiih' (Earth English language - Betelgeuse).

I are taking control of the Earthling Don_1 to communicate with you. Fear not, he will be returned to his normal thicko state once I have finnished.

Hear on the planet Mindiir, we have been aware of the demise of Fywoo Tgiih (EEL - Betelgeuse) for 1000 orbits (EEL - 50,000 years). We have calculated that the star will become a Yuda-treeke (EEL - Supanova) in Earth year 2012. We suspect this have thingsome to do with your 'Olympic Games'.

But you need no be concerned. We and our close friends from the planet Uir Uid have constructing a hty wrop (EEL - cardboard box) into what we are putting Betelgeuse when the time is wright. This are protecting us all from the julippto (EEL - radiation) what will be exuded by the transformation of Betelgeuse from red giant to white dwarf.

If you have any queres you can unimail me at ptoor@mndiirplanet.uni and I are be pleased to heelp you two understood our plans.

I now return Don_1 to you.

Ooer, I feel all strange, I think I'm going to be thick!

Terrifying stuff.

[LeeE]

Hi RD (or should I say Zaphod)

I noted your comments and passed them on to the real expert, that bloke down the pub. He said ‘No. We’re definitely all going to die’.

Funnily enough, your mate down the pub is quoting Arthur Dent.

[John Chapman (OP)]

And Zaphod Beeblebrox lived on a planet with a sun called ........?

[lunar11]

Take your pick; The 2012 Olympics or the demise of all Mankind.