Why does Betelgeuse attract people's attention? When will the dangerous Betelgeuse explode?

Why does Betelgeuse attract people's attention? When will the dangerous Betelgeuse explode? Have you noticed that Orion, the more representative constellation in the night sky, looks a little different from before? The reason for this difference is that Orion Alpha, also known as Betelgeuse, located on the shoulder of Orion, has become dark, which is why Betelgeuse has been dark for 2 1 century.

When will the reserve of this supernova explode? What performances will be performed when it is about to break out? Similar to all excellent astronomy and space stories, this story originated on a Friday night. On the night before this Sunday (65438+February 20th), discussions about Betelgeuse gradually appeared on social media. The root of the discussion is a graduation thesis published by a scholar at Villanova University on February 8 on "The Decline of Red Giant Betelgeuse". The fluorescent ink diagram of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) confirms that Betelgeuse is indeed one magnitude darker, or 0.5 to 1.5 higher than the original star height. It was sunny that night, which was conducive to observation, so they rushed to the roof of the parking lot in Norfolk, Virginia for observation. Betelgeuse is indeed in decline and needs to be darker than Betelgeuse on the side.

Such a change is unusual for a variable star like Betelgeuse, and it also raises some questions in the field of astronomy. As a red giant with a distance of 70 billion light years, which is 12 times larger than the sun, the regular change of Betelgeuse's red orange was first recorded in 1836, which was recorded by scientist John Herschel. At this stage, the expansion of Betelgeuse is about 8 astronomical units (AU). If placed at the core of the solar system, it can cover Jupiter's orbit.

According to this fact, scientists used the 2.5-meter telescope glasses of Mount Wilson Observatory and applied the non-smooth electro-optical interference precision measurement method to determine the physical diameter of Betelgeuse. In the late 1980s, scientists obtained the first real-time image of Betelgeuse by using a new diameter masking intervention method.

Betelgeuse has always attracted much attention because it is a planet in the solar system that is likely to become a supernova in the near future. Supernovae can often be seen in the solar system, but they have never been observed at close range. 1604 Kepler Ophiuchus is another supernova we found in the solar system, and in 1987, the whole process of establishing a supernova in the Magellanic Cloud was observed. A red giant like Betelgeuse will not stay in the red giant for a long time, and its hydrogen fuel cell will be exhausted after 6.5438+million years. It will undergo an explosion and collapse, and finally become a type II supernova. This kind of explosion is likely to happen in tens of thousands of years, and it is also likely to happen tonight.

Is Betelgeuse's decline a signal before its explosion, or is it just a misunderstanding? Scientists have not yet reached a conclusion on this matter, but there is no doubt that this is an excellent learning opportunity. After all, Betelgeuse is only over 700 light-years away. Every optical telescope points at it, and gravitational waves can be detected by laser intervention of the Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) and other machinery and equipment. When an explosion does occur, it can be detected like the neutrino observatory in ice cube.

Fortunately, when the explosion occurred, the surrounding 5 billion light years were the "destruction zone" of the explosion. Because there is no sight, everyone is safe, but everyone can receive the radiation source generated by the explosion and observe the supernova explosion for this purpose. It is also a grand game performance. Supernovae with a long history may have participated in the evolution of life on earth. Recently, some scientific studies believe that supernovae may even be the key for people to walk upright.

What does a supernova in Orion look like? Taking another supernova in large magellanic cloud as a reference, the chromaticity of Betelgeuse will be-10 magnitude when it explodes. This brightness is 16 times weaker than children's full moon, but 100 times brighter than Venus, so it will be very easy to observe in broad daylight. As a supernova after the explosion, Betelgeuse will also leave a significant mark in the night sky.

Personally observe the decline of Betelgeuse. Betelgeuse is very easy to find in the night sky of1February. At night, it rises in Ran Ran in the east of China. In fact, the starry sky in the northern hemisphere in winter is especially suitable for Betelgeuse's observation, because it runs in the opposite direction to the sun and is very obvious in the night sky. In summer, the situation is just the opposite.

You can even use the six stars around Betelgeuse to estimate the chromaticity of Betelgeuse. The six stars around Betelgeuse can be used as reference chromaticity to indicate magnitude. What will happen next? It is predicted that Betelgeuse will light up again in 2020, but it will be very exciting if it jumps to a smaller negative magnitude than Betelgeuse and Sirius.

But now everyone still needs to hesitate, waiting for Betelgeuse's explosive fireworks. It is lucky to see Betelgeuse become a supernova in this life. If the explosion really happens, Orion will never be the same again.