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Astronomers Awaiting 1a Supernova
Aryabhata writes to tell us BBC News is reporting that astronomers have sighted a star on the brink of a "1a" supernova. This opportunity presents the first chance astronomers have ever had to view a supernova of this magnitude up close. From the article: "They are so rare that the last one known in our galaxy was seen in 1572 by the great Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who first coined the term nova, for "new star", not realizing he was in fact witnessing the violent end of an unknown star. It has long been believed that type 1a supernovae are the death throes of a white dwarf star. But all modern ones have been so distant that it has not been possible to see what had been there beforehand."
Any decade now.
"I use a Mac because I'm just better than you are."
From TFA:
But soon, RS Oph could pass the tipping point - the nuclear flame will detonate from deep inside the star and blow it apart. How soon is not clear.
"It could be tomorrow, but most likely it'll be 1,000, 10,000, 100,000 years from now," says Jeno Sokoloski.
Wow that's some long life astronomers. I wonder if they will be around to see DNF getting release.
Stupid headline.
version 1a? They aren't even in beta yet!
Monstar L
Isn't that the guy from penny arcade ?
*yeah, I know
There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.
I've never seen a star go supernova before. But if it's anything like my old Chevy Nova, it'll light up the night sky!
Help us build a better map!
So that would be like eating a vindaloo and lighting farts.
Not to rain on anybodies parade, but if that supernova sends a gamma ray burst in our direction. We can kiss our asses goodby....
Have a nice Sunday!
"They are so rare that the last one known in our galaxy was seen in 1572 by the great Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe"
from what i heard, Gabe was pretty pissed about not being invited to it. Apparently he also looked at his neighbor with a telescope ans stole a haribrush she thre out as well.
The war with islam is a war on the beast
The war on terror is a war for peace
Not to rain on anybodies parade, but if that supernova sends a gamma ray burst in our direction. We can kiss our asses goodby....
It won't make gasoline more expensive, will it?
Although I'm sure technology will have advanced by then to let me use gamma rays to run my Hummer.
Wikipedia lists ones occuring in our galaxy in 1006, 1054, 1181, 1572, 1604, and I remember from other sources that several were observed during Roman times.
Isn't that typical. Before the telescope, there was a frickin' smorgasboard of supernovae at close range, then no sooner does man invent the telescope and the party's over, which draws me to the conclusion: I blame this supernovae drought on Galileo.
Lil' Thindime, lilting a lacrimose lament, krashes the kwaint konfines of Kokonino Kounty
On the plus side, when it goes boom, since its type 1a we wil know _exactly_ how far away it is, and whether we're or not we're screwed.