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.
Supernova incoming
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/
https://blogs.nasa.gov/Watch_the_Skies/ ... ern-crown/
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
- fishfoodie
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How many Doctoral students are stuck down mines, patiently waiting in the dark for a tiny burst of neutrinos ?
- tabascoboy
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If only we can actually get clear skies...
I think we have half a dozen or so down a mine near Whitby.fishfoodie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2024 4:36 pm How many Doctoral students are stuck down mines, patiently waiting in the dark for a tiny burst of neutrinos ?
I think that might be dark matter though, rather than neutrinos.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
Next week’s solar eclipse will pass us by too.
Very cool. Thank you for mentioning it! Will start to watch that bit of sky, otherwise I am sure to miss it.Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2024 4:20 pm 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/
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Only a matter of time till those neutrinos mutate.fishfoodie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2024 4:36 pm How many Doctoral students are stuck down mines, patiently waiting in the dark for a tiny burst of neutrinos ?
Be an absolute bloodbath.
Are you sure? It means I'll have to change the bulb for red alert....lemonhead wrote: ↑Sat Apr 06, 2024 10:40 amOnly a matter of time till those neutrinos mutate.fishfoodie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2024 4:36 pm How many Doctoral students are stuck down mines, patiently waiting in the dark for a tiny burst of neutrinos ?
Be an absolute bloodbath.
Meh, always some excuse. Finale cracks me up without fail.TB63 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 06, 2024 1:17 pmAre you sure? It means I'll have to change the bulb for red alert....lemonhead wrote: ↑Sat Apr 06, 2024 10:40 amOnly a matter of time till those neutrinos mutate.fishfoodie wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2024 4:36 pm How many Doctoral students are stuck down mines, patiently waiting in the dark for a tiny burst of neutrinos ?
Be an absolute bloodbath.
- fishfoodie
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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.