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Tycho's Supernova

Posted by michael on from the plus-ca-change dept.

blamanj writes "Over 400 years ago, a supernova was visible in Nothern Europe. Astronomer Tycho Brahe helped bring about the collapse of the Ptolemaic system by showing that the 'new star' was not a local phenomena like a comet, but actually existed in (supposedly) unchanging heavens. The star that went nova was part of a binary system, and the supernova explosion sent the companion star shooting off into space. Now, that companion star has been found."

6 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. wow by the+quick+brown+fox · · Score: 3, Funny

    Astronomist and cartoonist... a true Renaissance man.

  2. Creationism? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I really hate when "Intelligent Design" advocates pop up in threads like this only to tell that Supernovas are too old and complex to evolve in 6000 years so they must have been 'intelligently designed'.

    Please. I find that such distrust in the machinations of Nature itself shows us how narrow minded these "scientists" are. "I can't understand it, so God must have done it," essentially. This does not open the door to further research and understanding. On the contrary it closes the door because there is nothing more to be understood beyond "God did it".

    Nature is a truly amazing thing. Evolution, Physics, Gravitation, the Stars, the Cells, everything is absolutely beautiful. Why the need to spoil Gaia with your imaginary friend?

    1. Re:Creationism? by GTRacer · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Why does believing that a Supreme Being constructed the Universe and its systems take away from the awesomeness of any part thereof? Supernovas, pulsars, dragonflies - they're all cool no matter how they came to be.

      I choose to believe that God set it up and let it run. Questions of design, evolution, deity are merely tests of faith as well as intellect.

      GTRacer
      - My robot OTOH, chooses to believe what he was programmed to believe

      --
      Defending IP by destroying access to it? That makes sense, RIAA/MPAA. Go to the corner until you can play nice!
    2. Re:Creationism? by Johnno74 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Where I once worked there was a guy, who was a software dev, and a smart guy, who was 100% in the creationism camp. One day me and another guy I worked with (Tom) were questioning him about his beliefs.

      We said, "So, you beleive that earth was created 2000 years ago?" "Yes."

      "And the fossils and things, were they just put there by god to test our faith?" "Yes, of course."

      So Tom said to him:
      "So... how do you know the earth is really 2000 years old and the older stuff was created by god then? Maybe the earth is only 500 years old, and everything before that was placed there by god... Maybe the earth was created when you were born, and everything before you was put there by god."

      "Infact, maybe the earth is only 5 minuites old, and everthing older, including all your memories was just placed there by god?"

      We left him at his desk thinking about it. He looked troubled.

    3. Re:Creationism? by numbski · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Bah. I'm a christian. Not the over-the-top poke'n'prod everyone else into believing what I believe type. I take the new testament very seriously. Everything before that I take with a large salt lick.

      The fact of the matter is that the Bible, especially the old testmament simply CANNOT be read literally. Sure, there are some stories in there I'm sure happened, but when you have multiple authors claiming to be Moses in a few cases...eh....

      Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart and mind.

      Love thy neighbor as thyself.

      I don't mean to oversimply it, but if you get those two points, I mean REALLY get them, you get more of christianity than many proclaimed christians do. You could *almost* toss out the rest. You'd be missing out on a whole lot of good stuff but if it came right down to it....

      --

      Karma: Chameleon (mostly due to the fact that you come and go).

  3. Signs that you watch too much daytime TV by yabbo · · Score: 3, Funny

    The star that went nova was part of a binary system, and the supernova explosion sent the companion star shooting off into space. Now, that companion star has been found."


    ...Next week on Oprah: "We've found his long lost companion star, and we're ready to reunite these two stars. What will be their reaction? Will he take his companion back now that he's gone nova?"