Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse. Saying its name three times won’t have the same effect as a certain bio-exorcist, but it’s still a sight to behold.
At about 950 times bigger than our Sun, Betelgeuse is one of the biggest stars in our Universe. But that comes with a price.
Just like us, stars have a life expectancy, and Betelgeuse is no different. It’s a ticking time bomb that’s ready to go, but we’re not sure when.
So, what if today was the day Betelgeuse went out with a bang? How would the Earth be affected? And will our Universe ever be the same?
Betelgeuse is one of the closest stars to Earth, at a distance of only 650 light-years away. This makes Betelgeuse a fan-favorite with professional and amateur astronomers alike.
Betelgeuse is a red giant star, which means that when it reaches the end of its life, it will explode in a spectacular supernova, possibly even becoming a black hole in the process. Let’s imagine that today is the day that Betelgeuse calls it quits, and puts on one heck of a cosmic light show.
But, before getting good seats for Betelgeuse’s grand finale, what sort of damage could an exploding star do to Earth? Well, think of stars as being like nuclear power plants. If they explode, you’re looking at a disaster of cosmic proportions.
Anything within 50 light-years of the exploding Betelgeuse will suffer massive shockwaves, and be inundated with dust and radiation. Will you survive the celestial eruption? Actually… yeah.
The only side effect we’re going to feel from Betelgeuse exploding is sadness. It’s going to be a bummer when we say goodbye to the brightest star in the Orion constellation.
Down here on Earth, we’re going to see a very bright light in the sky. It could even be visible during the day, and bright enough to rival a full moon at night.
Don’t worry, it’ll be hard for you to miss, as this light show is expected to go on for quite some time. This is because the light has to travel 650 light-years from its place in the Universe to ours.
The event will be breathtaking to behold, but Betelgeuse will be wrapping up its farewell tour. And that’s it. It’s been a pleasure, Betelgeuse.
We’re about 10 times too far away to feel any repercussions from the explosion. If we weren’t, well, that would be another story.
If we were too close to Betelgeuse when it explodes, our atmosphere and cells would be fried by the radiation and gamma waves. When you’re exposed to high doses of radiation, it can burn and scar your skin, cause genetic mutations, and can ultimately be lethal.
Gamma radiation, in particular, is incredibly powerful. It’s pure energy, even more intense than light itself. If Betelgeuse were closer to Earth, it would be a literal and figurative “”lights out”” for all of us. Humans, animals, plants, you name it – it would all be toasted.
An explosion that big, from a star that immense, would destroy life on Earth in seconds once the radiation hits us, even though the process of going supernova takes years. And even if we did have interplanetary ships to evacuate in time, Betelgeuse is so huge that there wouldn’t be a planet in our Solar System that’s safe from the explosion.
There! Are you happy? Everyone dies.
Thankfully, we’re much too far from Betelgeuse to have any direct, observable or harmful effects from the explosion. Betelgeuse is going to explode, but it will likely take another 100,000 years.
When it does go, astronomers are going to have to rethink the structure of Orion. It may not leave a massive hole in the Universe, but it will leave a hole in our hearts.
But we’re not out of the cosmic woods yet. What if another devastating cosmic event decided to make an appearance?
What if a quasar entered our solar system?
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Sources
- “What Will Happen When Betelgeuse Explodes?”. Ethan Siegel, 2020. forbes.com. Accessed February 3 2020.
- “Radiation Health Effects | US EPA”. 2014. US EPA. Accessed February 3 2020.
- “Will Bright Star Betelgeuse Finally Explode? A Look at the Dimming Red Giant in Orion’s Shoulder”. Gohd, Chelsea. 2020. space.com. Accessed February 3 2020.
- “Just a Fainting Spell? Or Is Betelgeuse About to Blow?”. Dennis Overbye, 2020. nytimes.com. Accessed February 3 2020.
- “Betelgeuse: The Eventual Supernova”. Howell, Elizabeth. 2017. space.com. Accessed February 3 2020.
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