Astronmy picture of the Day

sgallan · 08-04-2009, 09:41 AM

Description can be found here......

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/

sgallan · 08-05-2009, 09:06 AM

Explanation: The sharpest image ever of Betelgeuse shows a mammoth star that is slowly evaporating. Betelgeuse (sounds a lot like "beetle juice"), also known as Alpha Orionis, is one of the largest and brightest stars known. The star is a familiar orange fixture easily visible to the unaided eye toward the constellation of Orion. The above recent image from the Very Large Telescope in Chile resolves not only the face of Betelgeuse, but a large and previously unknown plume of surrounding gas. This plume gives fresh indications of how the massive star is shedding mass as it nears the end of its life. Conversely, a series of previous observations indicate that the surface of Betelgeuse has noticeably shrunk, on the average, over the past decade. If Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star about 640 light years distant, were placed at the center of our Solar System, the plume would extend past the orbit of Jupiter. Since Betelgeuse is known to change its brightness irregularly, future observations may determine if changes its appearance irregularly as well. Betelgeuse is a candidate to undergo a spectacular supernova explosion almost anytime in the next few thousand years.

BonnieJ2 · 08-05-2009, 02:39 PM

Here's the archived explanation:
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090804.html

Spider · 08-05-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgallan

Betelgeuse is a candidate to undergo a spectacular supernova explosion almost anytime in the next few thousand years.

I'll keep an eye out.

sgallan · 08-05-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spider

I'll keep an eye out.

Since it is 640 light years away it may have already blown and we just don't know it yet.

Spider · 08-05-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgallan

Since it is 640 light years away it may have already blown and we just don't know it yet.

Damn! Missed another one.

RYou · 08-05-2009, 06:57 PM

Neat site.

This one is from July 9. What caught my eye is the time of day...still light out and the number of stars aleady visible. Oh yea, it's some little island called Krakatau.

arm-spin · 08-05-2009, 08:19 PM

That final picture is friggin' spectacular.

sgallan · 08-05-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RYou

Neat site.

This one is from July 9. What caught my eye is the time of day...still light out and the number of stars aleady visible. Oh yea, it's some little island called Krakatau.

Building up to another "event".

sgallan · 08-05-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arm-spin

That final picture is friggin' spectacular.

You want a cool picture? Here is one....

08-04-2009, 09:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
sgallan Olympic Champ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Parker, Az Posts: 3,225	Astronmy picture of the Day Description can be found here...... http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ __________________ I am 49, bald, ugly, and don't own a single cool thing. Kids like me though.

08-05-2009, 09:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
sgallan Olympic Champ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Parker, Az Posts: 3,225	Re: Astronmy picture of the Day Explanation: The sharpest image ever of Betelgeuse shows a mammoth star that is slowly evaporating. Betelgeuse (sounds a lot like "beetle juice"), also known as Alpha Orionis, is one of the largest and brightest stars known. The star is a familiar orange fixture easily visible to the unaided eye toward the constellation of Orion. The above recent image from the Very Large Telescope in Chile resolves not only the face of Betelgeuse, but a large and previously unknown plume of surrounding gas. This plume gives fresh indications of how the massive star is shedding mass as it nears the end of its life. Conversely, a series of previous observations indicate that the surface of Betelgeuse has noticeably shrunk, on the average, over the past decade. If Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star about 640 light years distant, were placed at the center of our Solar System, the plume would extend past the orbit of Jupiter. Since Betelgeuse is known to change its brightness irregularly, future observations may determine if changes its appearance irregularly as well. Betelgeuse is a candidate to undergo a spectacular supernova explosion almost anytime in the next few thousand years. __________________ I am 49, bald, ugly, and don't own a single cool thing. Kids like me though.

08-05-2009, 02:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
BonnieJ2 World Champ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,932	Re: Astronmy picture of the Day Here's the archived explanation: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090804.html __________________ "All my life I have tried to pluck a thistle and plant a flower wherever the flower would grow in thought and mind." -- Abraham Lincoln

08-05-2009, 06:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
RYou Olympic Champ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 7,663 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Astronmy picture of the Day Neat site. This one is from July 9. What caught my eye is the time of day...still light out and the number of stars aleady visible. Oh yea, it's some little island called Krakatau. __________________ Brrrrrrrrr It's cold outside !

08-05-2009, 08:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
arm-spin Olympic Champ Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,103	Re: Astronmy picture of the Day That final picture is friggin' spectacular.

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