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#1
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If one of our neighboring stars like Proxima Centauri went nova...
....what would we see and how would it affect us?
Thank you |
#2
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Jason Macadamia wrote:
...what would we see and how would it affect us? From 41*N I wouldn't see anything and it would **** me off. But here's what Ask the Astronomer says about Alpha Centauri: http://www.astronomycafe.net/qadir/ask/a11585.html |
#3
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I asked a similar question probably about a year ago. I was given a
link to a site that described all the variables and came to a conclusion that a star would have to be something like three light years or closer before any possible damage could occur to us. If I find that link I'll post it. -- Michael A. Barlow "Jason Macadamia" wrote in message nk.net... ...what would we see and how would it affect us? Thank you |
#4
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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. 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 |
#5
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If there was, it could give a whole new meaning to the term "global
warming" |
#6
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It's been some time but this site looks like the one I was talking
about. http://stupendous.rit.edu/richmond/answers/snrisks.txt This site talks about all the effects on us from nova and how close a nova would have to be to do anything to us. Brian Bishop http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/ is the guy I asked the question to some time ago (and just did again to get help re-finding that site). after reading a bit I remembered the question was about Betelgeuse going nova and what effects that would have on us. -- Michael A. Barlow "Michael Barlow" wrote in message ... I asked a similar question probably about a year ago. I was given a link to a site that described all the variables and came to a conclusion that a star would have to be something like three light years or closer before any possible damage could occur to us. If I find that link I'll post it. -- Michael A. Barlow "Jason Macadamia" wrote in message nk.net... ...what would we see and how would it affect us? Thank you |
#7
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You're forgetting the effects of charged particles and neutrons that
would arrive after some years after the initial burst of neutrinos and photons. These particles travel slower, but when they arrived at Earth, the effect would be serious. Atmospheric gasses would be transmuted into radioactive isotopes with half lives of decades or more and because of the high, persistent radiation levels, there would be little chance of survival for many species. On a more positive note, since we'd have at least 10-50 years warning, we could gather up asteroid belt material and build a 2 km-thick shield with a diameter of 15000 km (+/- !) to shadow the Earth from the stream of particles ;-) Bottom line is a supernova would have to be 50-100 ly distant for minimal effects from the heavier particles. Michael Barlow wrote: I asked a similar question probably about a year ago. I was given a link to a site that described all the variables and came to a conclusion that a star would have to be something like three light years or closer before any possible damage could occur to us. If I find that link I'll post it. |
#8
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Tim Killian wrote: You're forgetting the effects of charged particles and neutrons that would arrive after some years after the initial burst of neutrinos and photons. These particles travel slower, but when they arrived at Earth, the effect would be serious. Atmospheric gasses would be transmuted into radioactive isotopes with half lives of decades or more and because of the high, persistent radiation levels, there would be little chance of survival for many species. On a more positive note, since we'd have at least 10-50 years warning, we could gather up asteroid belt material and build a 2 km-thick shield with a diameter of 15000 km (+/- !) to shadow the Earth from the stream of particles ;-) Bottom line is a supernova would have to be 50-100 ly distant for minimal effects from the heavier particles. Could you please show the calculations which lead you to state the critical distance as 50-100 lyr? I would love to be able to add this information to my page: http://stupendous.rit.edu/richmond/answers/snrisks.txt which currently places only weak limits on the dangers of high-energy particles. Michael Richmond |
#9
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"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 |
#10
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"Tim Killian" wrote in message ... You're forgetting the effects of charged particles and neutrons that would arrive after some years after the initial burst of neutrinos and photons. These particles travel slower, but when they arrived at Earth, the effect would be serious. Atmospheric gasses would be transmuted into radioactive isotopes with half lives of decades or more and because of the high, persistent radiation levels, there would be little chance of survival for many species. On a more positive note, since we'd have at least 10-50 years warning, we could gather up asteroid belt material and build a 2 km-thick shield with a diameter of 15000 km (+/- !) to shadow the Earth from the stream of particles ;-) Bottom line is a supernova would have to be 50-100 ly distant for minimal effects from the heavier particles. Good points here and that's what I was thinking about initially- the long terms effects. Yes, we would survive initially, but for how long afterwards? Jason Michael Barlow wrote: I asked a similar question probably about a year ago. I was given a link to a site that described all the variables and came to a conclusion that a star would have to be something like three light years or closer before any possible damage could occur to us. If I find that link I'll post it. |
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