A Conversation for The Lives of Stars
arcturus
machineHotandCold Started conversation Dec 10, 2008
How likely is it that around 36 to 40 years ago, Arcturus went nova, or supernova.
I've looked over the stats, and this star is weird at best.
Ben
arcturus
Gnomon - time to move on Posted Dec 10, 2008
If it went supernova, it wouldn't be there now.
I note that Arcturus is a variable star, and a red giant, so it is certainly the type that could go nova, but I'd have to look at the figures to see if it did. It's been continuously observed, so the astronomers would know.
arcturus
Gnomon - time to move on Posted Oct 5, 2010
The reason that Arcturus is weird is because it is probably not part of the the spiral arm of the galaxy that we live in, but an intruder from the galactic halo, where stars are formed in slightly different ways. It just happens to be passing through.
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arcturus
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