• Question: what would happen if there was a supernova

    Asked by jedgill to Mohan, Dan on 15 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Daniel Fovargue

      Daniel Fovargue answered on 15 Mar 2017:

      It depends where it happened. Far enough away and maybe we would just a bright spot in the sky for a while. Closer ones would be a problem. A lot of energy and high energy radiation would be spewed out of the star.

      And of course, if the sun exploded we’d be toast.

    • Photo: Mohan K

      Mohan K answered on 15 Mar 2017:

      A nearby supernova or one pointed directly at us and we’re toast.

      Those further away have been observed throughout history. A supernova around 1000 years ago was described as being 1/4 as bright as the moon.

Comments

  • Photo: Christopher

    Christopher commented on :

    Not all stars have enough mass to become supernovas – and our Sun isn’t big enough (it will become a red giant and still toast us all). If there was a supernova from a nearby star (still millions of miles away) we’d all be goners – the high energy X-rays and gamma rays would burn us up 🙁