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Dying Star Betelgeuse Spews Fiery Nebula

Posted by Soulskill on from the lights-in-the-sky dept.

astroengine writes "Betelgeuse is dying a nasty death. The star is in the final, violent stages of its life, shedding vast amounts of stellar material into space as it quickly approaches a supernova demise. But now, with the help of the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, Betelgeuse's extended nebula has come to light. Comprised of silica and alumina dust, ESO astronomers have been able to image the nebula in infrared wavelengths for the first time. This is the most detailed view we've ever had of the imminent death of a titanic red supergiant star."

7 of 574 comments (clear)

  1. Old news by PPH · · Score: 5, Funny

    What's wrong with Slashdot editing these days? This happened 640 years ago. And you're only posting now?

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    1. Re:Old news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      640 years ought to be enough for anybody.

  2. What? by canajin56 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comprised of silica and alumina dust, ESO astronomers have been able to image the nebula in infrared wavelengths for the first time.

    The ESO astronomers are made of silica and alumina dust?

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  3. Re:How soon is soon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    When will then be now?

  4. Re:How soon is soon? by icebike · · Score: 3, Funny

    In the Future Semiconditionally Modified Subinverted Plagal Past Subjunctive Intentional tense, yes it would, but in the present tense (on-book haventa forewhen presooning returningwenta retrohome) its a toss up.

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  5. Re:I've got mixed feelings by circletimessquare · · Score: 1, Funny

    betelgeuse is in orion's armpit, so it's only going to blow his arm off

    luckily for orion the star that's going to blow isn't the one at the tip of his dick:

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Orion_constelation_PP3_map_PL.jpg

    oh wait... M42 already IS a nebula. he's already blown his interstellar load

    http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/nebulae/m42.html

    cosmic spooge

    apparently orion gets too easily sexually excited when he's hunting

    wait, i'm sorry, it's not his dick, it's his SWORD

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/Orionurania.jpg

    riiiight

    that's what the ancients were thinking?

    riiight

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  6. Re:How soon is soon? by nospam007 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Can we expect to observe Betelgeuse going supernove in our lifetimes?"

    Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse!
    About now.