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Whats going on with Betelgeuse? Weird changes...

Discussion in 'Science' started by Sobo, Dec 24, 2019.

  1. Sobo

    Sobo Banned

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    Something strange happened in last weeks. The giant star Betelgeuse starts dimming at a massive level. Infact the dimming is so much, that it even changed what the star symbol Orion looks like.

    Betelgeuse is a massive star and its at end of its life cycle. Scientists say it could go Super Nova any time
     
    Sobo, Dec 24, 2019
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  2. tecoyah

    tecoyah Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Likely your kids will live to see Betelgeuse supernova, maybe even you....it wont be much longer regardless. For all we know it already has and we wont see it for years.
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2019
    tecoyah, Dec 24, 2019
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  3. Sobo

    Sobo Banned

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    Humanity doesnt know what it is like when such a massive star goes supernova that close.
     
    Sobo, Dec 24, 2019
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  4. tecoyah

    tecoyah Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Yet....we will soon find out.
     
    tecoyah, Dec 24, 2019
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  5. Badaboom

    Badaboom Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Unless of course it release a massive gama ray burst directly at us, then we won't be enjoying the light show for long...

    A gama burst is one of many extinction level event that could happen.
     
    Badaboom, Dec 24, 2019
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  6. Sobo

    Sobo Banned

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    Yes but wont hit us. Betelgeuse polar axis is not directed towards us luckily
     
    Sobo, Dec 24, 2019
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  7. FoxHastings

    FoxHastings Well-Known Member

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    It's funny...I noticed this thread because although I am not an astronomer I read the astronomy column in the local paper. He described Betelgeuse as the brightest star in Orion … I looked last night, was happy to find and recognize Orion and his belt (!) but and was confused because Betelgeuse seemed no brighter than the other stars in the constellation.....it's the upper left star, correct?

    Is it normal for this fading of a star to happen so quickly ?
     
    FoxHastings, Dec 24, 2019
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  8. tecoyah

    tecoyah Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    That star is no a Gamma ray threat....not the right type. Now Eta Carinae might be a problem in 10,000 years or so, but even then the chances are quite slim.
    https://www.space.com/4814-risk-earth-supernova-explosions.html
     
    tecoyah, Dec 24, 2019
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  9. Sobo

    Sobo Banned

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    The brightest is Rigel. Betelgeuse is the reddish one. That it dimms down so quickly is kinda odd
     
    Sobo, Dec 24, 2019
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  10. FoxHastings

    FoxHastings Well-Known Member

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    I haven't seen any reddish tint but I don't have a telescope, maybe that would help (?).

    Is Rigel the lower right star?
     
    FoxHastings, Dec 24, 2019
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  11. tecoyah

    tecoyah Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    The reddish tint is best seen by looking at a nearby star and noting it by accident.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Dec 24, 2019
    tecoyah, Dec 24, 2019
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  12. tecoyah

    tecoyah Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    tecoyah, Dec 24, 2019
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  13. Junkieturtle

    Junkieturtle Well-Known Member Donor

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    Could be something as simple as a dust cloud passing in between Betelgeuse and us.
     
    Junkieturtle, Dec 24, 2019
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  14. Badaboom

    Badaboom Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I heard it was taco night in heaven last friday... Maybe god farted...
     
    Badaboom, Dec 24, 2019
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  15. tecoyah

    tecoyah Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I think you may need a bit more education concerning this subject.
     
    tecoyah, Dec 24, 2019
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  16. Junkieturtle

    Junkieturtle Well-Known Member Donor

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    Yes, apparently, along with the author of the article you linked who also suggests that gas or dust could be a potential cause.
     
    Junkieturtle, Dec 24, 2019
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  17. william kurps

    william kurps Banned

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    The last such visible supernova in the Milky Way was Kepler's Supernova, all the way back in 1604, which was obvious during the day for over three weeks.
     
    william kurps, Dec 24, 2019
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  18. Dispondent

    Dispondent Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Given the distance, couldn't it actually have already gone Super Nova, if that was happening? Not like we are going to see it live, just the aftermath. Its hundreds of light years away, depending on sources, either way, we won't know until long after it happens, yet we may well feel the effects of that before we learn the truth...
     
    Dispondent, Dec 30, 2019
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  19. Lil Mike

    Lil Mike Well-Known Member

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    Sorry about the mix up! I was fooling around with some of the base software of the simulation and when I restarted that happened. No biggie, I'll call tech support.
     
    Lil Mike, Dec 30, 2019
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  20. Space_Time

    Space_Time Well-Known Member

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    Here's more:

     
    Space_Time, Dec 30, 2019
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