Did M82 just fry 5000 earths?

[Eternal_Freedom]

Yeah Kepler's supernova in the 1600's was 20k lightyears away and was as bright as Venus. Betelgeuse is only 600 lightyears away. Think about it.

I don't need to, I know how bright it's going to be

[Flagg]

Wow more meaningless drivel. Are you capable of constructively contributing to anything?

Listen, son. There comes a time in every mans life when he realizes that the person he's talking to has self esteem issues beyond their control. Now I'm very sorry about your disability but you need to not express your inward pain outward. I know you're a bit surly and won't understand about 2/3 of what I'm saying because you wanna look like a big man. But see, to me, you're just blips on a screen. I'm not above a lot of things, but I'm trying to be a better person.
So I'll leave you with these words of wisdom: totes ma goats.

[The Xeelee]

You have made several posts in this thread but not one has contributed anything useful to the discussion.

[Flagg]

When Betelgeuse explodes, it'll be "recent" for us, even though technically it went about 500 years or so in the past.

Can't wait for that to happen actually...it's going to be an epic light show.

The awesome thing is that it could have already gone. Hopefully within our lifetimes we'll see it.

[Flagg]

You have made several posts in this thread but not one has contributed anything useful to the discussion.

Of course it did. You aren't arguing over stupid minutia anymore are you?

[Eternal_Freedom]

When Betelgeuse explodes, it'll be "recent" for us, even though technically it went about 500 years or so in the past.

Can't wait for that to happen actually...it's going to be an epic light show.

The awesome thing is that it could have already gone. Hopefully within our lifetimes we'll see it.

As I said earlier, I really hope I get to see the star go boom...but I don't think it's likely.

[Borgholio]

Looks like you should be able to see the supernova in m82 with a pair of common binoculars. I just went outside to try to locate it. Google Sky Map found the galaxy good enough...but it's fucking overcast. It's supposed to reach it's maximum brightness in the next week or so...so hopefully I can see it.

[Sky Captain]

A supernova cann't wipe out all life on planet unless tha planet happens to be so close that oceans boil off and crust melts. Anything less and bacteria living on ocean floor or inside crust wouldn't even notice any disturbance.

Not true. A supernova (hell, even a sufficiently large CME) can strip away the planet's protective radiation belts and leave it exposed to the solar wind and/or all the other nasty radiation flying around after said supernova. Global extinction would not be far behind. Melting crusts and boiling oceans is not the only way to sterilize a planet.

It would only affect surface life, bacteria underground and on ocean floor would be fine. Whole ecosystems living near hydrothermal vents would continue to live.

[Eternal_Freedom]

A supernova cann't wipe out all life on planet unless tha planet happens to be so close that oceans boil off and crust melts. Anything less and bacteria living on ocean floor or inside crust wouldn't even notice any disturbance.

Not true. A supernova (hell, even a sufficiently large CME) can strip away the planet's protective radiation belts and leave it exposed to the solar wind and/or all the other nasty radiation flying around after said supernova. Global extinction would not be far behind. Melting crusts and boiling oceans is not the only way to sterilize a planet.

It would only affect surface life, bacteria underground and on ocean floor would be fine. Whole ecosystems living near hydrothermal vents would continue to live.

Possibly. I'm not sure what the long-term effects would be. But it would certainly rule out any intelligent tool-using civilisation emerging.

[Borgholio]

Ok had a clear and (relatively) dark night here...so I went out to try to spy the supernova. Thing is really faint. Certainly can't view it with the naked eye. It's about the same brightness as many of the fainter background stars...so I'm not even sure I was looking at the right object.

Space.com suggests a 6 -10 inch telescope so my 7x50mm binoculars are probably not enough. I'd need to upgrade to a pair of 70 or 80mm binoculars and a tripod. So I guess when they said really good pair of binoculars, they meant REALLY good...as in $500 or more.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Managed to catch it here in South Wales briefly. Used my housemate's 12 inch reflector I could just make it out with the eyes. Stuck a DSLR on there and it showed up quite well.

[Borgholio]

Pic please.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Edit:

Sorry, it's only uploaded on my old uni course's facebook group, and I don't have any other image hosting available. I can email it to you if you like though.

[Borgholio]

Content currently unavailable.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Like I said, I forgot that the Astronomy group is a closed one.

[Channel72]

Well even with the likelihood of a trillion sentient beings being vaporized it's totally worth it so douchebags like us can nitpick over minutia. Totes ma goats.

If I can't be a pedantic shit in this forum, then where else can I be?

Anyway, let's have a moment of silence to honor the (theoretical) victims of M82 who might possibly have existed/been vaporized millions of years ago, maybe.

I know I'll never forget where I was when I first heard about the M82 supernova. In fact, I was right here, in this forum. That's the sort of thing you just don't forget. It's like 9/11 all over again.

M82: Never forget.

[Borgholio]

Edit:

Sorry, it's only uploaded on my old uni course's facebook group, and I don't have any other image hosting available. I can email it to you if you like though.

Thanks for the pic, its quite amazing! Can I repost it here?

[Eternal_Freedom]

Please do!

[Borgholio]

Let's see if this works...



It does! Thanks EF!

[Eternal_Freedom]

No worries. As the image says, credit is due to my housemate Antos, it was his scope after all, I just lifted and carried things and rolled a joint