near by super nova?

[schmack]

If our nearest stella neighbour, which i believe is around 4 light years away, was to go nova all of a sudden. What would happen to planet Earth? Would we have any advance warning? What is the likelyhood of it happening "all of a sudden"? Would life on earth be at risk? <br /><br />Cheers. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="4" color="#ff0000"><font size="2">Assumption is the mother of all stuff ups</font> </font></p><p><font size="4" color="#ff0000">Gimme some Schmack Schmack!</font></p> </div>

 

[schmack]

ok, proxima centauri wont... but how far away would a nova have to be to not be considered a threat? <br /><br />This is just interest rather than any real fear. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="4" color="#ff0000"><font size="2">Assumption is the mother of all stuff ups</font> </font></p><p><font size="4" color="#ff0000">Gimme some Schmack Schmack!</font></p> </div>

 

[venator_3000]

Astronomers keep a pretty close record of the various stars in the Galaxy that are massive enough to become supernovae. These are relatively easy to spot as they are also the brightest of stars. Their luminosity makes them easy to track and survey. <br /><br />None are close enough to threaten Earth. In addition there has not been a supernova event in the Milky Way for over 400 years. This was Kepler’s Star in Ophiuchus, also called SN1604.<br /><br />In one respect it is supernovae to which we owe our existence. These explosions seed the galaxy with heavy metals and serve as catalysts for solar system formation. <br /><br />Eta Carinae is an interesting star. It saw what some astronomers call a supernova imposter event back in the 1800s. Eta Car is likely to be a supernova but this may not happen for another million years. <br /><br />It is about 8000 light years off. Eta Car is about as close as you might care to be to a potential supernova. This is due to the fact that Eta Car actually has potential to become a hypernova, due to its mass. It is about 150x the mass of the Sun. The threat comes from the possible gamma-ray burst. However, imagery of Eta Car’s gas shells suggest its poles are not pointed toward Earth. Current theory suggests that the GRB from Eta Car would propagate along the pole lines.<br /><br />Thinking of GRBs its hard to say what other sources might be of danger. The luminous pre-nova stars are cataloged. But there is no way to ID all of the heavy stellar objects like neutron stars or black holes that, if they were to collide close by, would create a GRB that would harm Earth directly or so damage Earth’s atmosphere as to leave us vulnerable to the Sun’s sleet as well as harmful cosmic rays.<br /><br />V3K<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[nstars507]

well this is a very interesting thought but really you don't have to worry about anything... what a relief right lol... the nearest stella neighbor proxima centauri is way to small to go super nova that is for sure... and yes there would be signs of warning. the swelling would be the most obvious of course... anyways you can sleep tonight with little worries. stars live a ling time and the only thing that proxima centauri will do is die like our own star which is not very destructive.

 

[Boris_Badenov]

The star Vega is 25 light years distance from Earth. It weighs in at just over 2 solar masses. It rotates at 12.5 rph. & it's pole has Sol System right in it's cross hairs. <br />If there is any star in our neighborhood we should fear, it's this one.<br />Any event that triggered a GRB in this star would exit from the pole & arrive at Earth 25 years later.<br />It's effect might not be too pleasant. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[franontanaya]

Actually, it could be even more interesting to wonder if the Solar System has been even scratched by the ejection of a nova anytime in the past -apart from whatever one gave us heavy elements to start with-, and if any fossil or geological records are left of that event. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>