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In a faraway galaxy, seven supernovas explode all at once
i09 ^
| 10/3/11
| staff
Posted on 10/02/2011 11:54:46 AM PDT by Nachum
Galaxy Arp 220, located 250 million light-years from Earth, is home to seven different supernova explosions all going on at the same time. We've never seen so many stars exploding simultaneously in the same galaxy.
A team of astronomers at Chalmers and Onsala Space Observatory found that all seven supernovas went off in the last sixty years (allowing for the 250 million years for the light to reach Earth, of course). In cosmic terms, that's pretty much no time at all, as European Southern Observatory astronomer Rodrigo Parra explains:
"In Arp 220, we see far more supernovae than in our galaxy. We estimate that a star explodes in Arp 220 once every quarter [century]. In the Milky Way, there is only one supernova per century."
The astronomers believe it's proof that Arp 220 is one of the most efficient galaxies in the universe when it comes to making stars...and, ultimately, blowing them up. There's so many stars that have formed in that galaxy that there's always plenty of potential supernovas, even allowing for the fact that exactly when each star explodes in its own lifetime can vary by a whole lot more than sixty years. Team member John Conway adds:
(Excerpt) Read more at io9.com ...
TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: faraway; galaxy; seven; supernovas
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1
posted on
10/02/2011 11:54:49 AM PDT
by
Nachum
To: Nachum
This was already posted 250 million years ago.
To: Nachum
Seven with one blow. Seems a bit odd, unless some sort of chain reaction has occurred. Coincidences would seem to be easily ruled out.
To: Nachum
Galactic climate change! And it’s all our fault!
4
posted on
10/02/2011 12:06:36 PM PDT
by
maro
(One term is enough)
To: Repeal The 17th
5
posted on
10/02/2011 12:09:05 PM PDT
by
FlingWingFlyer
(If you always tell the truth, you won't have to remember what you said.)
To: Nachum
6
posted on
10/02/2011 12:10:07 PM PDT
by
Captain Beyond
(The Hammer of the gods! (Just a cool line from a Led Zep song))
To: Nachum
7
posted on
10/02/2011 12:10:22 PM PDT
by
usconservative
(When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
To: Nachum
Galaxy Arp 220, located 250 million light-years from Earth, is home to seven different supernova explosions all going on at the same time. We've never seen so many stars exploding simultaneously in the same galaxy. Bush's Fault!
I can't believe someone didn't post that already...
8
posted on
10/02/2011 12:11:33 PM PDT
by
usconservative
(When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
To: Nachum
The war between the Romulans and the Klingons must be heating up... :)
9
posted on
10/02/2011 12:12:51 PM PDT
by
Mr. Jeeves
( "The right to offend is far more important than any right not to be offended." - Rowan Atkinson)
To: Nachum
They must have budget problems too!!! :)
Seriously, this is most interesting. Please ping me in the future on cosmology/astronomy news (especially deep space material like this.)
10
posted on
10/02/2011 12:12:56 PM PDT
by
ZULU
(DUMP Obama in 2012)
To: Nachum
Any black helicopters in the area?
11
posted on
10/02/2011 12:13:06 PM PDT
by
jagusafr
("We hold these truths to be self-evident...")
To: Nachum
E.E. “Doc” Smith lives - the BEMs are revolting!
12
posted on
10/02/2011 12:14:50 PM PDT
by
SES1066
(1776 to 2011, 235 years and counting in the GRAND EXPERIMENT!)
To: Nachum
In a faraway galaxy, seven supernovas explode all at once
13
posted on
10/02/2011 12:19:17 PM PDT
by
mikrofon
(That's our story and we're sticking to it....)
To: Nachum
Was not a good time to be living in that corner of the universe!
To: Nachum
Sniff! They blow up so fast . . . .
15
posted on
10/02/2011 12:31:02 PM PDT
by
Hunton Peck
(See my FR homepage for a list of businesses that support WI Gov. Scott Walker)
To: SES1066
E.E. “Doc” Smith lives - the BEMs are revolting!I'm familiar with E.E. "Doc" Smith, but ya lost me with the BEM reference. Loved the Lensman series, and the Skylark series. Have I missed some other works of his?
16
posted on
10/02/2011 12:31:26 PM PDT
by
nobdysfool
(If the government was in charge of the Sahara, there would be a shortage of sand....)
To: nobdysfool
I would think BEM would be BUG EYED MONSTERS.
17
posted on
10/02/2011 12:37:27 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(Lame and ill-informed post)
To: Nachum
I didn’t know Aliens had SUVs.
18
posted on
10/02/2011 12:43:11 PM PDT
by
mnehring
To: nobdysfool
Example of BEM
19
posted on
10/02/2011 12:43:23 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(Lame and ill-informed post)
To: Nachum
"He coulda been a star"
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