The SuperNova

Am an occasional lurker - hope you may help.

Some news services have been reporting a supernova:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-30417,00.html

From my far, far less than amateur point-of-view I am interested in the
comment:

But The Washington Post reported it was more likely to erupt into the most
luminous star in our sky - visible during the day and bright enough to let
people read unaided at night, perhaps for months.

Has this part already happened or is yet to be?

Is it viewable with the naked eye or binoculars in the southern hemisphere?

Thankyou

Graham

On 9 May, 11:46, "TacAN" wrote:
Am an occasional lurker - hope you may help.

Some news services have been reporting a supernova:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...95374-30417,00....

From my far, far less than amateur point-of-view I am interested in the
comment:

But The Washington Post reported it was more likely to erupt into the most
luminous star in our sky - visible during the day and bright enough to let
people read unaided at night, perhaps for months.

That refers to Eta Carinae, a star in our galaxy only 7500 light
years away. If it blew, it would be very bright. The one that
blew is in another galaxy some 240 million light years away.

Has this part already happened or is yet to be?

Is it viewable with the naked eye or binoculars in the southern hemisphere?

The supernova happened last year and would not have been
visible.

Eta Carinae is a star in the southern hemisphere visible in
a small telescope.

http://zuserver2.star.ucl.ac.uk/~apo.../ap950712.html
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060326.html

George

"TacAN" wrote in message
...
Am an occasional lurker - hope you may help.

Some news services have been reporting a supernova:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-30417,00.html

From my far, far less than amateur point-of-view I am interested in the
comment:

But The Washington Post reported it was more likely to erupt into the most
luminous star in our sky - visible during the day and bright enough to let
people read unaided at night, perhaps for months.

Has this part already happened or is yet to be?

Is it viewable with the naked eye or binoculars in the southern
hemisphere?

Your query is resolved within the first three paragraphs
of the story at the link you provided: the quote refers
to the star eta carina to which nothing has yet happened.

Thanks Greg and George - the way I read some brief reports it sounded like
it was already or just about to happen.
Appreciate that being cleared up.
Graham
"Greg Neill" wrote in message
...
"TacAN" wrote in message
...
Am an occasional lurker - hope you may help.

Some news services have been reporting a supernova:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-30417,00.html

From my far, far less than amateur point-of-view I am interested in the
comment:

But The Washington Post reported it was more likely to erupt into the
most
luminous star in our sky - visible during the day and bright enough to
let
people read unaided at night, perhaps for months.

Has this part already happened or is yet to be?

Is it viewable with the naked eye or binoculars in the southern
hemisphere?

Your query is resolved within the first three paragraphs
of the story at the link you provided: the quote refers
to the star eta carina to which nothing has yet happened.

TacAN wrote:

Thanks Greg and George - the way I read some brief reports it sounded like
it was already or just about to happen.

It will - anytime the next 10,000 years or so :-)

--
I recommend Macs to my friends, and Windows machines
to those whom I don't mind billing by the hour

""Anders Eklöf"" wrote in message
. ..
TacAN wrote:

Thanks Greg and George - the way I read some brief reports it sounded
like
it was already or just about to happen.

It will - anytime the next 10,000 years or so :-)


I'll make sure that I am here to see it. :-)


--
I recommend Macs to my friends, and Windows machines
to those whom I don't mind billing by the hour