Betelgeuse Supernova: Did It Happen?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impossibility of determining whether Betelgeuse has undergone a supernova event in the recent past due to its distance of approximately 600 light-years from Earth. Any information regarding its current state would take 600 years to reach us, meaning that if a supernova occurred last month, we would remain unaware for centuries. This highlights the limitations of astronomical observation and the speed of light as a fundamental constraint in astrophysics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of light-year as a unit of distance in astronomy
  • Basic knowledge of supernova phenomena
  • Familiarity with the speed of light and its implications in space observation
  • Awareness of astronomical observation techniques
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the lifecycle of massive stars leading to supernova events
  • Explore the implications of light travel time in astronomical observations
  • Learn about Betelgeuse's characteristics and its significance in astrophysics
  • Investigate current methods for detecting supernovae and their limitations
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy enthusiasts, astrophysicists, and students studying stellar evolution and observational astronomy will benefit from this discussion.

paigecoal
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Is there anyway we can determine if Betelgeuse has gone supernova earlier this month? (theoretically speaking)
 
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Nope. Betelgeuse is about 600 light-years away. As no information can arrive faster than the speed of light, anything we know about Betelgeuse is 600 years in the past. If something happenned to it in the past month, we wouldn't know for another 600 years.
 
Hi, Welcome to PF, Whats your main area of interest?
 
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