Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Death Star (Supernova close to Earth - could wipe us out)
thesun.co.uk ^ | Jan. 5, 2010 | PAUL SUTHERLAND

Posted on 01/05/2010 5:34:26 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY

A STAR primed to explode in a blast that could wipe out the Earth was revealed by astronomers yesterday.

It will self-destruct in an explosion called a supernova with the force of 20 billion billion billion megatons of TNT.

New studies show the star, called T Pyxidis, is much closer than previously thought at 3,260 light-years away - a short hop in galactic terms.

So the blast from the thermonuclear explosion could strip away our ozone layer that keeps out deadly space radiation. Life on Earth would then be frazzled.

The doomsday scenario was described yesterday by astronomers from Villanova University, Philadelphia, US.

They said the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite has shown them that T Pyxidis is really two stars, one called a white dwarf that is sucking in gas and steadily growing. When it reaches a critical mass it will blow itself to pieces.

It will become as bright as all the other stars in the galaxy put together and shine like a beacon halfway across the universe.

The experts said the Hubble space telescope has photographed the star gearing up for its big bang with a series of smaller blasts or "burps", called novas.

(Excerpt) Read more at thesun.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: catastrophism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last
To: pnh102

Maybe what a Dyson Sphere should look like?

Might have to give Lucas or someone else some credit here?


21 posted on 01/05/2010 5:49:37 PM PST by nomorelurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: pnh102

Maybe what a Dyson Sphere should look like?

Might have to give Lucas or someone else some credit here?


22 posted on 01/05/2010 5:49:40 PM PST by nomorelurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: nomorelurker

Stupid 3X post


23 posted on 01/05/2010 5:50:39 PM PST by nomorelurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: chimera

Unless it did its explosive thing 3,259 years ago. LOL!


24 posted on 01/05/2010 5:51:50 PM PST by doc1019 (To call Obama a bumbling idiot would be an insult to bumbling idiots worldwide.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

Good. Hopefully the whiney/emotional liberals won’t be able to handle it and will commit suicide.


25 posted on 01/05/2010 5:52:33 PM PST by PGalt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

The Crab Nebula is 6500 light years away. It was a supernova that while noticed in the daytime in 1731 it had no ill effects. At 3500 Light years this supernova is still too far to worry about, but it would make for a great show!


26 posted on 01/05/2010 5:54:06 PM PST by Nateman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Thanks Free ThinkerNY.
 
Catastrophism
 
· join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe ·
 

The Cycle of Cosmic Catastrophes: Flood, Fire, and Famine in the History of Civilization The Cycle of Cosmic Catastrophes:
Flood, Fire, and Famine
in the History of Civilization

by Richard Firestone,
Allen West, and
Simon Warwick-Smith


27 posted on 01/05/2010 5:55:51 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Happy New Year! Freedom is Priceless.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cripplecreek

Unnhh. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the light reaching earth from there is 3200+years old already. By definition it could have exploded in an OMGDIZE explosion 3199 years ago and we could not see it yet, because, the light and explosion from there is still on the way here.

That being said I have other crap to worry about.


28 posted on 01/05/2010 5:56:21 PM PST by Illuminatas (Being conservative means never having to say; "Don't you dare question my patriotism")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY
3,260 light-years away - a short hop in galactic terms.

Unfortunately, it blew up 3,259 years ago, and we will finally "see" its explosion next November.

Then will come the slower moving pieces.

29 posted on 01/05/2010 5:59:51 PM PST by meadsjn (Sarah 2012, or sooner)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

The Beta Cassiopeia supernova was twice as far, roughly, and nobody on Earth was bothered much, back in 1572, except for the daytime star generating much talk.

Simesis 147 went off about 100KY ago, and was a tad closer, 3000 LY. Didn’t wipe life from Earth. Eyewitness reports are somewhat vague :)

The Vela supernova was 800 LY away! Woo hoo, if we are worried about 3200 ly distance, this one was in our lap! 10,000 BC or so, so there were people around then to take UV readings to measure ozone depletion. No fluorocarbons back then, so the readings would be uncluttered.

Vela Junior may have been closer.

The supernova remnant that’s now the Crab nebula went off 1n 1054, widely observed, and was 7000 ly away.

Supernova 185 was a big hot type 1A at only 3000 ly distance, about the same as the one coming up.

Point is, there have been supernovas in the past, some with people around, some as close as this Doom Star, and we pulled through.

I realize that back in the year 185 we did not have MSM to scare us to death with endless accounts of what the ozone layer is doing. Tune in at 11 to learn the ozone depth over YOUR town and what type of sunblock President Chelsea Clinton uses.


30 posted on 01/05/2010 6:00:22 PM PST by DBrow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

Maybe it’s already blown up and we just don’t know it yet...


31 posted on 01/05/2010 6:04:29 PM PST by Doohickey (I try to take my days one at a time, but occasionally several days attack me at once.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chimera

When one looks at a star 3300 LY away, one is looking at the past, 3300 years ago - so whatever process has happened so long ago in this star’s history, we will experience in our world’s future. We may have time to prepare but it is no 3300 years - the radiation (”cosmic” rays) travel quite close to or at the speed of light, and will do what they will do.


32 posted on 01/05/2010 6:05:43 PM PST by GregoryFul
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

Women, Children and Minorities hardest hit.


33 posted on 01/05/2010 6:15:49 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY
A STAR primed to explode in a blast that could wipe out the Earth was revealed by astronomers yesterday. It will self-destruct in an explosion called a supernova with the force of 20 billion billion billion megatons of TNT.

Now that, will cause global warming.

Perhaps if we sacrifice Algore to the sun god it won't happen.

It's worth a shot.

34 posted on 01/05/2010 6:22:12 PM PST by metalurgist (Want your country back? It'll take guns and rope. Marxists won't go without a fight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dan B Cooper

“That’s no moon !”


35 posted on 01/05/2010 6:22:29 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

Let me make this easy for everybody.
We will be wiped out on December 21, 2012.
Galactic travelers beat the speed of light here using warp drive and told the Mayans.


36 posted on 01/05/2010 6:22:57 PM PST by 76Tiger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Crazieman
BS, unless one of the poles are aimed at us, 500 light years is enough distance to be safe from a supernova

For at least 500 years, anyway!

On the other hand, it may have already supernova'd 499 years ago!

37 posted on 01/05/2010 6:32:06 PM PST by sonofagun (Some think my cynicism grows with age. I like to think of it as wisdom!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY
"So the blast from the thermonuclear explosion could strip away our ozone layer that keeps out deadly space radiation."

We must immediately repeal the ban on CFC's and start a Manhattan Project to produce ozone.

38 posted on 01/05/2010 6:47:16 PM PST by Jabba the Nutt (Are they insane, stupid or just evil?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

Does this mean I won’t be getting a green job?


39 posted on 01/05/2010 6:48:58 PM PST by matt1234
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Free ThinkerNY

40 posted on 01/05/2010 6:51:01 PM PST by matt1234
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-57 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson