1a supernova

izzywizzy

would star systems such as Procyon or Capella blow up as 1a supernovae?

Chronos

Only binary systems can generate Ia supernova.

izzywizzy

the reason i asked is because it says on wikipedia:

"What appears as a single star to the naked eye is actually a binary star system, consisting of a white main sequence star of spectral type F5 IV-V, named Procyon A, and a faint white dwarf companion of spectral type DA, named Procyon B. The reason for its brightness is not its intrinsic luminosity but its closeness to the Sun; at a distance of 3.5 pc or 11.41 light years..."

"The average separation of the two suns is 15 AUs, a little less than the distance between Uranus and the Sun, though the eccentric orbit carries them as close as 9 AUs and as far as 21"

so i'm wondering if procyon A will cause procyon B to explode when it turns into a red giant in 10-100 million years
-procyon B(white dwarf) is only .6 solar masses

here's A and B's orbit path http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:P...lustration.JPG

Chronos

Much too far apart to generate an SnIa event in the foreseeable future, IMO.