Astro-physics Is Fucking Confusing

Cymro · 02-29-2004, 07:16 PM

I've been reading up a bit recently on some cosmology and astronomy etc, and the concept of light takin time to reach earth still fucks me up, like if a supernova happens 100 lighteyears away, and it had an effect on everything within a 5 lightyear radius, would we see it's effects before we acctually saw it happen or what?

Arik · 02-29-2004, 08:52 PM

No.

At the point the star goes supernova, it takes 100 years for the light to get here. Then it starts affecting everything in the area of the star. Assuming everything happens at the speed of light (and it's not going to be, but let's just say), there's still five years between the start of the supernova and the time it reaches the edge of its mess.

On earth, a hundred years later, we see the supernova, then we watch as it consumes everything over the next five years, a hundred years ago.

That's one thing I stand in awe of every time I go outside at night. I'm looking at what was. I'm looking at dead stars.

Cymro · 02-29-2004, 10:09 PM

Yeah, me too, one of your recent posts has awakened the astronomer in me recently...

Daxie · 03-03-2004, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Arik Peterson@Feb 29 2004, 04:52 PM

That's one thing I stand in awe of every time I go outside at night. I'm looking at what was. I'm looking at dead stars.

WOW! I never thought of it like that before...WOW!

Bean · 03-03-2004, 10:15 PM

Uh oh, I feel a rant about time travel and temporal mechaniccs coming on

Daxie · 03-09-2004, 05:20 AM

OK... so here's a good question.... the light from our sun takes 8 days to reach us, if the sun goes supernova would we see it in 8 days or 8 years? Also, how long would it take for the effects to reach Earth? What would the effects be on Earth prior to us being wiped out, aside from the obvious plant life dying out, I assume we might freeze to death before the supernova consumes us.

Cymro · 03-09-2004, 11:22 PM

We'd see it 8 Minutes afterward, and feel it the same time.

Bean · 03-10-2004, 12:06 AM

In order for us to feel it at the same time, wouldn't that mean that the blast would have to be oving at the speed of light? It would seem to me that it would take a few minutes after we saw it for us to start feeking the effects.

Daxie · 03-10-2004, 06:35 AM

8 Minutes?? Well that sucks! GEEZ! That doesn't give me enough time to max out my credit cards and tell the bill collectors to piss off and mean it.... somehow I always break down and pay the damn credit cards, but I wouldn't if the world was about to blow up

Arik · 03-10-2004, 12:09 PM

If it makes you feel better, Daxie, our sun won't go super-nova ever. It's not massive enough.

What will happen is the sun will burn out of hydrogen and turn into a red giant, where the sun's core is much hotter than what it is now, but the surface temperature will be much lower. So we'll probably freeze.

However, that won't happen without warning. Presently, you have a few billion years to max out those credit cards.

02-29-2004, 07:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cymro Religious Fanatic Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Shitsville, CF63 Posts: 4,921	I've been reading up a bit recently on some cosmology and astronomy etc, and the concept of light takin time to reach earth still fucks me up, like if a supernova happens 100 lighteyears away, and it had an effect on everything within a 5 lightyear radius, would we see it's effects before we acctually saw it happen or what? __________________ "Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. "But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."

02-29-2004, 08:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Arik Astro-Monkey Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Here, dumbfuck! Posts: 2,304	No. At the point the star goes supernova, it takes 100 years for the light to get here. Then it starts affecting everything in the area of the star. Assuming everything happens at the speed of light (and it's not going to be, but let's just say), there's still five years between the start of the supernova and the time it reaches the edge of its mess. On earth, a hundred years later, we see the supernova, then we watch as it consumes everything over the next five years, a hundred years ago. That's one thing I stand in awe of every time I go outside at night. I'm looking at what was. I'm looking at dead stars. __________________ The writers of this post apologize for you being too stupid to understand it.

02-29-2004, 10:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cymro Religious Fanatic Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Shitsville, CF63 Posts: 4,921	Yeah, me too, one of your recent posts has awakened the astronomer in me recently... __________________ "Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. "But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."

03-03-2004, 10:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bean The Awesome One Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Canada eh! Posts: 5,055	Uh oh, I feel a rant about time travel and temporal mechaniccs coming on __________________ "I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing." --James T. Kirk

03-09-2004, 05:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
Daxie Patrons Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1,010	OK... so here's a good question.... the light from our sun takes 8 days to reach us, if the sun goes supernova would we see it in 8 days or 8 years? Also, how long would it take for the effects to reach Earth? What would the effects be on Earth prior to us being wiped out, aside from the obvious plant life dying out, I assume we might freeze to death before the supernova consumes us. __________________ >Hagar: "Before we go into battle today let me remind you what we're fighting for! We're fighting for justice! We're fighting for equality! What could be more important than that?" >>Eddie: "How about a steady paycheck, health insurance and a good retirement plan?"

03-09-2004, 11:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cymro Religious Fanatic Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Shitsville, CF63 Posts: 4,921	We'd see it 8 Minutes afterward, and feel it the same time. __________________ "Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. "But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."

03-10-2004, 12:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
Bean The Awesome One Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Canada eh! Posts: 5,055	In order for us to feel it at the same time, wouldn't that mean that the blast would have to be oving at the speed of light? It would seem to me that it would take a few minutes after we saw it for us to start feeking the effects. __________________ "I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing." --James T. Kirk

03-10-2004, 06:35 AM	#9 (permalink)
Daxie Patrons Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1,010	8 Minutes?? Well that sucks! GEEZ! That doesn't give me enough time to max out my credit cards and tell the bill collectors to piss off and mean it.... somehow I always break down and pay the damn credit cards, but I wouldn't if the world was about to blow up __________________ >Hagar: "Before we go into battle today let me remind you what we're fighting for! We're fighting for justice! We're fighting for equality! What could be more important than that?" >>Eddie: "How about a steady paycheck, health insurance and a good retirement plan?"

03-10-2004, 12:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
Arik Astro-Monkey Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Here, dumbfuck! Posts: 2,304	If it makes you feel better, Daxie, our sun won't go super-nova ever. It's not massive enough. What will happen is the sun will burn out of hydrogen and turn into a red giant, where the sun's core is much hotter than what it is now, but the surface temperature will be much lower. So we'll probably freeze. However, that won't happen without warning. Presently, you have a few billion years to max out those credit cards. __________________ The writers of this post apologize for you being too stupid to understand it.

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