Supernova incoming

[Biffer]

Thought I'd pass on this cool little bit of news.

Normally we can't predict when stars go supernova, except to say 'well, maybe in the next million years or so'.

However there are some rare examples where we can - and one should happen this year. It happens when you have two stars in close orbit around each other and they exchange matter.

In this case it's a red giant and white dwarf binary. The red giant expels matter constantly, and it's hoovered up by the white dwarf. But the dwarf doesn't have the gravitational attraction to keep all this stuff stable, so it goes off as a nova on a regular basis. And this star, in a Constellation called Corona Borealis, is due to go off in the next few months. It should reach +2 magnitude, which is pretty bright and definitely visible with the naked eye. It'll only be visible for a few days before it fades though.

This is pretty rare (most of these are too far away for us to see them) so it's worth looking out for. Corona Borealis is in the northern sky - if you look at Uraa Major (Big Dipper, The Plough, whatever you call it) and go directly out from the handle, you'll see two pretty bright stars, Arcturus and Bootes. Arcturus is the brighter, one of the brightest in the northern sky. Corona Borealis is a semicircle of stars next to Bootes.

[Biffer]

This isn't some half baked thing BTW, here's an article about it from NASA

https://blogs.nasa.gov/Watch_the_Skies/ ... ern-crown/

[fishfoodie]

How many Doctoral students are stuck down mines, patiently waiting in the dark for a tiny burst of neutrinos ?

[tabascoboy]

If only we can actually get clear skies...

[Biffer]

How many Doctoral students are stuck down mines, patiently waiting in the dark for a tiny burst of neutrinos ?

I think we have half a dozen or so down a mine near Whitby.

I think that might be dark matter though, rather than neutrinos.

[Slick]

Oh, this is cool, thanks. Please keep us updated

[Sandstorm]

If only we can actually get clear skies...

Next week’s solar eclipse will pass us by too.

[Enzedder]

If it's in the Northern skies, it didn't happen.

Neither did the bear shit in the woods.

[charltom]

This isn't some half baked thing BTW, here's an article about it from NASA

https://blogs.nasa.gov/Watch_the_Skies/ ... ern-crown/

Very cool. Thank you for mentioning it! Will start to watch that bit of sky, otherwise I am sure to miss it.

[fishfoodie]

If it's in the Northern skies, it didn't happen.

Neither did the bear shit in the woods.

Don't worry, the magnetic pole is due to flip any time now, so soon you'll be the NH !

[lemonhead]

How many Doctoral students are stuck down mines, patiently waiting in the dark for a tiny burst of neutrinos ?

Only a matter of time till those neutrinos mutate.

Be an absolute bloodbath.

[TB63]

How many Doctoral students are stuck down mines, patiently waiting in the dark for a tiny burst of neutrinos ?

Only a matter of time till those neutrinos mutate.

Be an absolute bloodbath.

Are you sure? It means I'll have to change the bulb for red alert....

[lemonhead]

How many Doctoral students are stuck down mines, patiently waiting in the dark for a tiny burst of neutrinos ?

Only a matter of time till those neutrinos mutate.

Be an absolute bloodbath.

Are you sure? It means I'll have to change the bulb for red alert....

Meh, always some excuse. Finale cracks me up without fail.

[TB63]

Tips hat, brilliant..

I'll give you..

[fishfoodie]

Only a matter of time till those neutrinos mutate.

Be an absolute bloodbath.

Are you sure? It means I'll have to change the bulb for red alert....

Meh, always some excuse. Finale cracks me up without fail.

The DOB youtube blackhole is the best !

The visceral reaction in the, "cut, versus tear", sketch is brilliant, as it shows how well he understands his audience, & he's on the side of science, & knowledge versus the quacks.

[assfly]

The red giant expels matter constantly, and it's hoovered up by the white dwarf.

:snigger:

[Biffer]

As requested, an update - there are signs this will go bang very soon

https://www.space.com/astronomers-new-s ... e-borealis

It'll only be visible for a few days when it does, so keep an eye out.

[Guy Smiley]

As requested, an update - there are signs this will go bang very soon

https://www.space.com/astronomers-new-s ... e-borealis

It'll only be visible for a few days when it does, so keep an eye out.

Time (pardon my pun) is so relative. This is 3000 light years away... what we will see 'soon' happened way back when the Middle East was peaceful.

[Biffer]

As requested, an update - there are signs this will go bang very soon

https://www.space.com/astronomers-new-s ... e-borealis

It'll only be visible for a few days when it does, so keep an eye out.

Time (pardon my pun) is so relative. This is 3000 light years away... what we will see 'soon' happened way back when the Middle East was peaceful.

Yep. But when you get right into the guts of relativity, there's no absolute reference for time, so it's happening now, here. Relativity properly fucks with your head.

[Guy Smiley]

As requested, an update - there are signs this will go bang very soon

https://www.space.com/astronomers-new-s ... e-borealis

It'll only be visible for a few days when it does, so keep an eye out.

Time (pardon my pun) is so relative. This is 3000 light years away... what we will see 'soon' happened way back when the Middle East was peaceful.

Yep. But when you get right into the guts of relativity, there's no absolute reference for time, so it's happening now, here. Relativity properly fucks with your head.

How much for a baggie?

[Biffer]

Time (pardon my pun) is so relative. This is 3000 light years away... what we will see 'soon' happened way back when the Middle East was peaceful.

Yep. But when you get right into the guts of relativity, there's no absolute reference for time, so it's happening now, here. Relativity properly fucks with your head.

How much for a baggie?

You'd need to pay for three or four years of undergraduate physics first, so not cheap.

[Sandstorm]

Well I'm sure the UK will see fuck-all as we're blanketed in clouds again until April 2025.

[Guy Smiley]

Yep. But when you get right into the guts of relativity, there's no absolute reference for time, so it's happening now, here. Relativity properly fucks with your head.

How much for a baggie?

You'd need to pay for three or four years of undergraduate physics first, so not cheap.

I am very definitely a long way from getting my head around advanced physics but the beauty of it is there to see.