"RMOLLISE" wrote in message
oups.com...

Jason Macadamia wrote:
...what would we see and how would it affect us?

Thank you


Hi:

Well, luckily for us, Proxima is not a candidate for supernovahood.

Rod,

Not to burst the bubble here, but I asked about a nova and not a supernova.
I realized Proxima wouldn't supernova, but maybe others wouldn't so your
post still applies!

Jason


In order for a star to become a supernova it must be a massive single
star, about 8 times more massive than the Sun. That results in a Type
II supernova, a single, huge star blowing its top.

OR...

A supernova, a Type I supernova, apparently comes from a binary star
system that probably includes a white dwarf and a fairly massive and
evolved giant companion star.

The Alpha/Proxima system does not fit these requirements. Which is a
danged good thing since the explosion of a supernova that close would
be...pretty bad news. IOW, it would open a real can of whoop-ass on us.
;-)

Again, luckily, it doesn't look like there are any candidate supernovae
progenitors close enough to put a hurtin' on us. ;-)

Peace,
Rod Mollise