Dying Star Betelgeuse Spews Fiery Nebula

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."

Comments

Old news

[PPH]

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

What?

[canajin56]

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?

Re:What?

[TrisexualPuppy]

The astronomers are the indirect object, putting the 'comprised of' descriptor onto the direct object, which is the Nebula.

Umm, excuse me. ESO astronomers is NOT an indirect object. ESO astronomers is the subject of have been which is a linking verb. Just so that you know, linking verbs don't have DOs or IDOs. They have predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives. Comprised of silica and alumina dust is a phrase that is used adjectivally and is intended to modify nebula. However, since the phrase was placed in the front of the sentence, at best, it is dangling. As the phrase is placed now, it modifies astronomers. Whoever modded up the parent needs to go back to grade school.

Re:How soon is soon?

[jfmiller]

Let's rephrase the question then: Can we expect to observe Betelgeuse going supernove in our lifetimes?