"Since its rotational axis is not toward the Earth, Betelgeuse's supernova would not cause a gamma ray burst in the direction of Earth large enough to damage its ecosystem even from a relatively close proximity of 520 light years."
Also it would take 520 years to get here anyway...
But I suppose that makes no difference because the first we'd know about it would be the gamma burst. What we're really discussing here is "Has Betelgeuse already gone Boom?"
Assuming they exist at all...which has not yet been proven.
And assuming that our assumption that they travel at the speed of light is also correct. Given our history of wrong assumptions I would assume the probability is low...
They are a prediction of GR - they cannot travel faster than light. If we discover that they do then they are not the gravitational waves that are predicted but something else (and far more exciting!).
Nova Post! (Score:4, Funny)
Boom!
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Seriously - If it goes supernova we should be a bit worried because it's close enough to drown us with radiation.
If that happens all our petty bickering on this planet will seem insignificant.
Of course - it's not certain that the radiation will be strong enough to kill off all life, but things will probably change a lot.
Re: (Score:5, Informative)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betelgeuse [wikipedia.org]
Re: (Score:2)
Also it would take 520 years to get here anyway...
But I suppose that makes no difference because the first we'd know about it would be the gamma burst. What we're really discussing here is "Has Betelgeuse already gone Boom?"
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
because the first we'd know about it would be the gamma burst
No, no, no, the first way to tell if a star has already gone supernova is by the change in graviton waves.
Just need to finish figuring out how to detect those... maybe if we supply more power to the lateral sensor array...
Re: (Score:1)
Only if they exist (Score:2)
Nope, gravitational waves travel at the speed of light.
Assuming they exist at all...which has not yet been proven.
Re: (Score:2)
And assuming that our assumption that they travel at the speed of light is also correct. Given our history of wrong assumptions I would assume the probability is low...
Re:Only if they exist (Score:2)