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 ...
Send Al up there to fix it.
By God, as long as there is a penny of wealth left to transfer we WILL be safe from this calamity, I just know it!
BS, unless one of the poles are aimed at us, 500 light years is enough distance to be safe from a supernova
It’s Bush’s fault or maybe Rush Limbaugh’s.
I guess that would put the health care bill and the falling dollar in perspective!
I guess we don’t need to worry about conservation or climate change then, do we?
I’d feel better if you can elaborate on that. I know certain blasts aim the explosion along a narrow plane, but not all?
Liberal fruitcakes don't perform, they delegate.
So, about 3300 LY away. Assuming a particle stream traveling at somewhat less than the speed of light as the primary destructive agent (if there are any), that gives us a few thousand years to come up with something. So, any ideas? Some kind of Dyson Sphere surrounding the Earth, or significant parts thereof? Maybe a magnetic deflector field to shunt those particles off to the side? I’m sure the techie-trekkies among us can come up with something.
Woman and Children hardest hit
That's no moon ...
So long as all democrats, commies, muslims, atheists, and assorted left wing rif raf go sizzle, I’m happy.
Well, that firms my decision up. I am leaving no full beers in the fridge tonight. Just in case.
How will we all sleep at night? Obama, start a government program to study and stop this -— now! Massive tax hikes are need this year, preferably retroactive for the last twenty years to help solve this Interstellar Global Nova Threat crisis! God Save Us All!
I’ll be damned worried about it in 3,260 years.
Just move to a better neighborhood.
Maybe what a Dyson Sphere should look like?
Might have to give Lucas or someone else some credit here?
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