UM-Bot Posted December 19, 2014 #1 Share Posted December 19, 2014 A massive and volatile star located 7,500 light years away is on the verge of going supernova. Social media has been abuzz lately with the news that a huge star called Eta Carinae might soon explode, causing a devastating burst of gamma rays capable of eradicating all life on our planet. Read More: http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/news/275994/could-eta-carinae-explode-and-wipe-us-out 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallidin Posted December 19, 2014 #2 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Glad to know that it's too far away to do any real damage to Earth. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Silver Thong Posted December 19, 2014 #3 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Well since it`s 7500 light years away and nothing travels faster than light im not to worried. Who would be, we will be extinct by then anyway. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarnabasCollins Posted December 19, 2014 #4 Share Posted December 19, 2014 The article says that one of the reasons we are in no danger if the star does go supernova is that it is not pointed in our direction. Can someone please explain how a star can be pointed in any particular direction? Just curious. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DONTEATUS Posted December 19, 2014 #5 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Its why E.T`s all have a Bug out Plan ! LOL ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino666 Posted December 19, 2014 #6 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Misleading headline and first couple of paragraphs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundew Posted December 19, 2014 #7 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Well since it`s 7500 light years away and nothing travels faster than light im not to worried. Who would be, we will be extinct by then anyway. If it is 7500 light years away it is quite possible that it has already exploded 7499 years ago and that next year we will actually see what has already happened in the distant past. Then again it might not be visible for decades, who can say. The article says that one of the reasons we are in no danger if the star does go supernova is that it is not pointed in our direction. Can someone please explain how a star can be pointed in any particular direction? Just curious. Yeah, that one had me too. If you look at something like the Crab Nebula, that Supernova basically exploded in all directions. Some black holes at galactic centers seem to expel huge quantities of energy perpendicular to their axis of spin as they consume matter. Those jets of matter are something you really don't want pointed at your planet. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DieChecker Posted December 19, 2014 #8 Share Posted December 19, 2014 The first thing I thought when I read the headline was, "No way, it is too far away." The amount of radiation decreases as the distance from the nova increases. As to being "pointed" at us, I'm not a astrophysicist, but I believe that might be referring to the axis of spin of the star. So, the star would be "pointed" out its "top". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Silver Thong Posted December 19, 2014 #9 Share Posted December 19, 2014 The article says that one of the reasons we are in no danger if the star does go supernova is that it is not pointed in our direction. Can someone please explain how a star can be pointed in any particular direction? Just curious. It can be pointed because of its poles, the star will eject from those two points. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Silver Thong Posted December 19, 2014 #10 Share Posted December 19, 2014 If it is 7500 light years away it is quite possible that it has already exploded 7499 years ago and that next year we will actually see what has already happened in the distant past. Then again it might not be visible for decades, who can say. LOl good point, duck and cover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DieChecker Posted December 19, 2014 #11 Share Posted December 19, 2014 When the star will explode depends on what stage it is in... If scientists are saying that it is exhibiting imminent signs (Oxygen burning), then it is going to be only months, or days. But if it is in the early stages (Carbon burning), then it could be thousands of years. Even if it is thousands of years, that would mean it has already exploded, since it is 7500 light years away. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_II_supernova#Formation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallidin Posted December 19, 2014 #12 Share Posted December 19, 2014 Huh. I guess I didn't know that a star going into a terminal super-nova phase primarily ejects the most harmful material/rays from it's poles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ancient astronaut Posted December 19, 2014 #13 Share Posted December 19, 2014 In answer to the question, hopefully so. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Noteverythingisaconspiracy Posted December 19, 2014 #14 Share Posted December 19, 2014 In answer to the question, hopefully so. Are you saying that you hope mankind is wiped out ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarnabasCollins Posted December 20, 2014 #15 Share Posted December 20, 2014 It can be pointed because of its poles, the star will eject from those two points. Okay, that explains it. Thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxo1 Posted December 20, 2014 #16 Share Posted December 20, 2014 If asteroids keep missing us, then I'm sure Eta Carinae will pose no threat to us either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVG Posted December 20, 2014 #17 Share Posted December 20, 2014 We will need no help in destroying ourselves..Look at all of the wars we have had in this world and yet we are still here..It is just a matter of time before we destroy all that is good and evil.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libstaK Posted December 20, 2014 #18 Share Posted December 20, 2014 If the explosion is "imminent" then we are in for a light show right? That would be something to look forward to seeing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVG Posted December 20, 2014 #19 Share Posted December 20, 2014 If the explosion is "imminent" then we are in for a light show right? That would be something to look forward to seeing. Should we book front row seats!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atuke Posted December 20, 2014 #20 Share Posted December 20, 2014 I guess if it already did and we don't know it yet we will find out....within the next 7,500 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qxcontinuum Posted December 20, 2014 #21 Share Posted December 20, 2014 (edited) iT' S alright we are doing so well at destroying ourselves ... Edited December 20, 2014 by qxcontinuum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gailforce Posted December 20, 2014 #22 Share Posted December 20, 2014 chill ever hear about the earths magnetic feald it deflects space junk and radiation on a regular basis worst case scenario it short sorcits the planet and causes a global blackout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Merton Posted December 21, 2014 #23 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Each of the various ways the Earth could be destroyed or at least sterilized has a small but non-zero probability. Put them all together and it is remarkable life on Earth has had such a long survival history and indicates such lucky planets may rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insanity Posted December 24, 2014 #24 Share Posted December 24, 2014 (edited) The first thing I thought when I read the headline was, "No way, it is too far away." The amount of radiation decreases as the distance from the nova increases. As to being "pointed" at us, I'm not a astrophysicist, but I believe that might be referring to the axis of spin of the star. So, the star would be "pointed" out its "top". Correct. It is likely that a supernova would likely eject a gamma ray burst from both polar regions of its axis, but as currently the rotational axis of Eta Carinae is not pointing at us, the burst probably would miss us. Additionally though, as Eta Carinae is a binary system, this may effect the orientation of the burst. An article published several years ago determined that if the burst did hit Earth, it would be equivalent of one kiloton of TNT per square kilometer over the entire hemisphere facing the star, with ionizing radiation ten times the lethal whole body dose to Earth's surface. Armon Dar & A. De Rujula (2002). "The threat to life from Eta Carinae and gamma ray bursts". Astrophysics and Gamma ray Physics in Space 24. pp. 513-523. Edited December 24, 2014 by Insanity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapow53 Posted December 26, 2014 #25 Share Posted December 26, 2014 The sky is also falling and going to kill everything soon. That's why I eat shrimp and red meat and drink alcohol and smoke stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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