SpaceSimCentral

Boffins think they can explain the very noticeable dimming that affected Betelgeuse recently.
I wonder when Betelgeuse will pop its cork. It'll certainly light up our skies when it does!

Posted by: @cody
I wonder when Betelgeuse will pop its cork. It'll certainly light up our skies when it does!

Shame we'll not be around then to see the fireworks. Considering the data reflects the state of the star over 600 years ago, there is an infinitesimal chance that it already has popped it's cork... though I highly doubt it.

Might be bad news for Ford and Zaphod as wells as Tharg the mighty.

Posted by: @cody
It'll certainly light up our skies when it does!

A significant chunk of 10 solar masses collapsing on itself from the orbit of Jupiter!? You bet!
By the way there are fantastic - and accessible - MOOCs on these topics here: [url]https://www.edx.org/xseries/astrophysics[/url]

Posted by: @pinback
Might be bad news for Ford and Zaphod as wells as Tharg the mighty.

<grins> Planet of the Apes (the original novel) is mainly set on a planet orbiting Betelgeuse.

Posted by: @cody Posted by: @pinback
Might be bad news for Ford and Zaphod as wells as Tharg the mighty.

<grins> Planet of the Apes (the original novel) is mainly set on a planet orbiting Betelgeuse.

Didn't know that but I never read the book the film is based on.

Factoid: the same author (Pierre Boulle) also wrote The Bridge over the River Kwai (from his experiences as a POW).

Having returned to its former glory, Betelgeuse is mysteriously dimming again. A boffin said:

We know that Betelgeuse is a candidate to become a supernova, but we do not know how a star behaves right before it explodes. Now I don’t believe that Betelgeuse is going to explode soon, but you never know.

I've seen it, it's rubbish
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Posted by: @geraldine
I've seen...

... attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion!

Posted by: @cody Posted by: @geraldine
I've seen...

... attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion!

Very eclectic actor you are quoting my friend, that line and his performance in that picture was solid! 

@gaius-konstantine
Just for the record, although Cody's follow up to my post did indeed quote the late, great Rutger Hauer from Blade Runner, my quote was from....someone else.
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Marvin is almost, but not quite, entirely unlike Rutger!

@cody
True, and his one liners could, at times, be devastating. I miss Marvin, the real Marvin that is from the original radio show.


If, and it's a big "if", we ever get out into space as the human race, it will certainly be more like that depicted in "Hitchhikers" rather that than some other vision of the future. Sure, we may well aim for "Star Trek" but, inevitably, we will end up with "Hitchhikers! 

Posted by: @geraldine
it will certainly be more like that depicted in "Hitchhikers"


You know, if this is Southend there’s something very odd about it.
You mean the way the sea stays steady as a rock and the buildings keep washing up and down? Yes, I thought that was odd.

Wanna guess where I live?

Posted by: @geraldine
Just for the record, although Cody's follow up to my post did indeed quote the late, great Rutger Hauer from Blade Runner, my quote was from....someone else.

Oh, I see... still prefer Rutger, who can forget him and a young Matthew Broderick in Ladyhawke?