Comments on: Brad Schaefer: ‘Betelgeuse could become a supernova any day now.’

By: ELENIN – Aquí Huele a Humo « Exit

ELENIN – Aquí Huele a Humo « Exit — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 13:13:40 +0000

[...] silencio de la NASA sobre el tema y la historia lanzada recientemente acerca de la estrella Betelgeuse convirtiéndose en supernova este año y la creación de un segundo sol en nuestros cielos, sobre [...]

By: Betelgeuse « JurisCult

Betelgeuse « JurisCult — Wed, 04 May 2011 09:31:55 +0000

[...] ^ a b c en Betelgeuse could explode as a supernova » Radio Podcasts | Earth & Sky [...]

By: ELENIN – Aquí Huele a Humo « EXIT-STENCIAL

ELENIN – Aquí Huele a Humo « EXIT-STENCIAL — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:34:36 +0000

By: jock

jock — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:58:51 +0000

what type of light waves will be emitted, and what will their effects be on such things as photosynthesis?

By: Jack Waldron

Jack Waldron — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 03:02:26 +0000

There’s a few problems with Brad Schaefer’s comments. One, already noted is the current estimate for Betelgeuse is between 497 ly to ~789 ly (643ly +/- 146).
Secondly, there is now way it is going to be brighter than a million full moons. The moon has a magnitude of -11 and the Sun -26. That makes the Sun 1,000,000 brighter than the moon (15 magnitudes). Betelgeuse will likely be a magnitude -12 when it goes supernova, making it about 2.5 times brighter than the Moon. Not a million. it is very unlikely to be as bright as the Sun. It will certainly be visible in daylight.
Lastly, the size is estimated as between the size of the orbit of Mars to beyond Jupiter and halfway to Saturn from Jupiter (radius 1.2 to 7.8 AU, to Jupiter being 5.5).