Betelgeuse going supernova - update: it's not

[sparrowsong]

www.cnn.com/2020/02/14/world/betelgeuse-star-photo-scn/index.html


I would so love to be alive to witness something like this happen.

[wanderingback]

It’s so crazy that when we do see the explosion it will have happened 700 years ago. It’s like my mind can’t even comprehend that.

[RoxMonster]

I really hope we get to see it in my lifetime. And it blows my mind that you are witnessing something that happened hundreds of years ago.

My astronomy professor in college (circa 2007) told us about this, and I have remembered it ever since. That was honestly the best, most interesting class I took in college (I was an English ed major!) I am just absolutely fascinated by space and astronomy.

[Jalapeñomel]

I fucking love science.

[bowies]

Feb 15, 2020 17:40:07 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

I really hope we get to see it in my lifetime. And it blows my mind that you are witnessing something that happened hundreds of years ago.

My astronomy professor in college (circa 2007) told us about this, and I have remembered it ever since. That was honestly the best, most interesting class I took in college (I was an English ed major!) I am just absolutely fascinated by space and astronomy.

I purposely didn’t take astronomy because my brain does not work that way. I bow down to those who can talk intelligently about this stuff.

[4speedy]

Is that stars name pronounced Beetlejuice?

[lahoagie]

Feb 15, 2020 19:18:04 GMT -5 4speedy said:

Is that stars name pronounced Beetlejuice?

It is pronounced Beetlejuice.

[carmenere]

Feb 15, 2020 18:40:20 GMT -5 bowies said:

Feb 15, 2020 17:40:07 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

I really hope we get to see it in my lifetime. And it blows my mind that you are witnessing something that happened hundreds of years ago.

My astronomy professor in college (circa 2007) told us about this, and I have remembered it ever since. That was honestly the best, most interesting class I took in college (I was an English ed major!) I am just absolutely fascinated by space and astronomy.

I purposely didn’t take astronomy because my brain does not work that way. I bow down to those who can talk intelligently about this stuff.

Same. But I dated a guy who was getting a PhD in astrophysics. He tried his best to explain things and it still went over my head. Speaking of things that happened hundreds of years ago...

[seeyalater52]

Feb 15, 2020 18:40:20 GMT -5 bowies said:

Feb 15, 2020 17:40:07 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

I really hope we get to see it in my lifetime. And it blows my mind that you are witnessing something that happened hundreds of years ago.

My astronomy professor in college (circa 2007) told us about this, and I have remembered it ever since. That was honestly the best, most interesting class I took in college (I was an English ed major!) I am just absolutely fascinated by space and astronomy.

I purposely didn’t take astronomy because my brain does not work that way. I bow down to those who can talk intelligently about this stuff.

Hard same. I took astronomy in college and being in class would give me legit panic attacks because of how big space is.

[mbcdefg]

Feb 15, 2020 21:04:36 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Feb 15, 2020 18:40:20 GMT -5 bowies said:

I purposely didn’t take astronomy because my brain does not work that way. I bow down to those who can talk intelligently about this stuff.

Hard same. I took astronomy in college and being in class would give me legit panic attacks because of how big space is.

I remember being scared shitless during a school trip to a planetarium while everyone else was enjoying a laser light show.

[aprilsails]

Wow that it it happens it will be as bright as the full moon. You’ve got to think something like that would throw off animals. Also I feel like that would trigger a lot of end of days religious types.

[One Girl In All The World]

Feb 15, 2020 22:01:00 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

Wow that it it happens it will be as bright as the full moon. You’ve got to think something like that would throw off animals. Also I feel like that would trigger a lot of end of days religious types.

I think I would freak TF out if I walked outside one night and there was what essentially equates to a second moon in the sky.

[aurora]

I would be sad to see such a recognizable constellation as Orion dramatically changed but wow, what an opportunity it would be to see a supernova!

[CurlyQ284]

Feb 15, 2020 17:38:57 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

It’s so crazy that when we do see the explosion it will have happened 700 years ago. It’s like my mind can’t even comprehend that.

So does this mean then that its possible it already exploded, like 680 years ago and we just don't know it yet?

[CloudBee]

Feb 16, 2020 9:35:45 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

Feb 15, 2020 17:38:57 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

It’s so crazy that when we do see the explosion it will have happened 700 years ago. It’s like my mind can’t even comprehend that.

So does this mean then that its possible it already exploded, like 680 years ago and we just don't know it yet?

Yes! My husband was just explaining to me, that because it is 700 lightyears away, that's how long it takes for the light we look up and see from that constellation to make it to Earth / within our sight. I think that is CRAZY! I never thought about lightyears that way before. I just assumed the stars we saw twinkling, were, you know, LIVE MOMENTS. But they are not!

[RoxMonster]

Feb 16, 2020 9:35:45 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

Feb 15, 2020 17:38:57 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

It’s so crazy that when we do see the explosion it will have happened 700 years ago. It’s like my mind can’t even comprehend that.

So does this mean then that its possible it already exploded, like 680 years ago and we just don't know it yet?

Yes! Isn't that wild?? It blows my mind. This is why I love astronomy. Looking into our night sky is looking hundreds and hundreds of years into the past.

[CloudBee]

Feb 16, 2020 9:55:28 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

Feb 16, 2020 9:35:45 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

So does this mean then that its possible it already exploded, like 680 years ago and we just don't know it yet?

Yes! Isn't that wild?? It blows my mind. This is why I love astronomy. Looking into our night sky is looking hundreds and hundreds of years into the past.

It's wild to think that this may be the first (?) time in recorded history that the night sky may change for Earth. Imagine how many have relied on the sky for navigational purposes. I don't think anyone expects the night sky to ever change in our lifetime.

[Scout'sHonor]

Whoa... so cool!

[TR]

Well. I was today years old when I learned that some people make it to adulthood without knowing what “light years” means. Fascinating.

[mcsangel2]

Feb 15, 2020 22:52:08 GMT -5 One Girl In All The World said:

Feb 15, 2020 22:01:00 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

Wow that it it happens it will be as bright as the full moon. You’ve got to think something like that would throw off animals. Also I feel like that would trigger a lot of end of days religious types.

I think I would freak TF out if I walked outside one night and there was what essentially equates to a second moon in the sky.

And it will be visible for about six months!

[mandymay]

Feb 16, 2020 14:24:37 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Feb 15, 2020 22:52:08 GMT -5 One Girl In All The World said:

I think I would freak TF out if I walked outside one night and there was what essentially equates to a second moon in the sky.

And it will be visible for about six months!

It’s being able to see it during the day that I’d be super interested to see.

[mcsangel2]

Feb 15, 2020 22:01:00 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

Wow that it it happens it will be as bright as the full moon. You’ve got to think something like that would throw off animals. Also I feel like that would trigger a lot of end of days religious types.

No, it's too far away to affect earth's magnetic and gravitational fields. It'll just be an interesting visual phenomenon.

[AAM2012]

The dooms day people will go crazy!!!

[notreal]

Since this is the only star name I know, it's time to learn another one. Also, this is cool in a terrifying way.

[wawa]

Feb 17, 2020 3:08:28 GMT -5 notreal said:

Since this is the only star name I know, it's time to learn another one. Also, this is cool in a terrifying way.

There's always Sirius.
Or Alpha Centauri. Antares. Vega.

Or my fave,the Pleiades, a star cluster.

[joy]

Feb 17, 2020 3:08:28 GMT -5 notreal said:

Since this is the only star name I know, it's time to learn another one. Also, this is cool in a terrifying way.

Polaris! (The North Star)

[jamaicam]

Whoa. That is amazing. Space completely blows my mind.

[aurora]

This one says it might not be a supernova, but something is changing.

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/betelgeuse-star-supernova-shape-dimming-european-southern-observatory-photo-a9339401.html

Basically, there's a lot we don't know about stars.

[NitaX]

Feb 15, 2020 17:40:07 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

I really hope we get to see it in my lifetime. And it blows my mind that you are witnessing something that happened hundreds of years ago.

My astronomy professor in college (circa 2007) told us about this, and I have remembered it ever since. That was honestly the best, most interesting class I took in college (I was an English ed major!) I am just absolutely fascinated by space and astronomy.

I also took astronomy in college! What I adored about college was the ability to decide what I wanted to take to meet the general ed core requirements. I took astronomy and geology. Totally geeky, but both have always fascinated me. 

[TR]

Feb 17, 2020 16:07:03 GMT -5 NitaX said:

Feb 15, 2020 17:40:07 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

I really hope we get to see it in my lifetime. And it blows my mind that you are witnessing something that happened hundreds of years ago.

My astronomy professor in college (circa 2007) told us about this, and I have remembered it ever since. That was honestly the best, most interesting class I took in college (I was an English ed major!) I am just absolutely fascinated by space and astronomy.

I also took astronomy in college! What I adored about college was the ability to decide what I wanted to take to meet the general ed core requirements. I took astronomy and geology. Totally geeky, but both have always fascinated me. 

Same! For my science courses I got to take Nutrition, Conservation Biology, Conceptual Astronomy (astronomy w/out math), and Statistics.